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SECRETS «« 

BALKANS 


CHARLES  J  VOPICKA 


SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 


Charles  J.  Vopicka 


SECRETS 
OF  THE  BALKANS 


SEVEN  YEARS  OF  A  DIPLOMATIST'S  LIFE 
IN    THE    STORM    CENTRE    OF     EUROPE 


By 
CHARLES   J.   VOPICKA 

UNITED  STATES  ENVOY  EXTRAORDINARY  AND  MINISTER  PLENIPOTENTIARY 
TO  ROUMANIA,  SERBIA  AND  BULGARIA,  1913-1920 


CHICAGO 

RAND   MCNALLY  &   COMPANY 

1921 


Copyright,  1 921,  by 
Charles  J.   Vopicka 


Made  in  U.  S.  A. 
Press  of  Rand  McNally.  Chicago 


FOREWORD 

A  BLOW  struck  in  the  Balkans,  as  of  steel  upon  flint;  a 
spark,  a  flame — and  then,  the  holocaust  of  the  world! 

But  the  blow  came  from  without;  the  hand  of  tyranny  was 
raised  against  a  people  whose  freedom  had  been  bought  with 
their  own  blood. 

The  World  War  began  in  the  Balkans,  yet  its  origin  was  in 
the  hearts  of  the  unscrupulous  autocrats  whose  ruthless  ambi- 
tion knew  neither  justice  nor  limit;  who  counted  the  subjection 
of  a  free  people  merely  as  the  first  move  in  the  game  to  win 
commercial  and  political  supremacy,  and  in  the  end,  to  dominate 
the  world.  Serbia  was  only  a  pawn,  to  be  swept  aside  as  the 
first  obstacle  in  the  path  of  world  conquest. 

This,  then,  is  the  story  of  the  Balkanic  Nations,  from  the 
earliest  times,  dealing  briefly  with  the  many  centuries  of  invasion, 
oppression  and  continual  fighting  for  liberty,  and  dwelling  in 
detail  on  the  heroic  struggle  in  the  great  cataclysm,  when  their 
lands  were  again  coveted  as  spoils  of  war. 

In  the  narration  is  revealed  intimate  and  positive  knowledge 
of  cause  and  effect,  events  and  conditions,  gained  in  seven  years 
of  constant  and  close  association  with  rulers  and  subjects,  in  the 
full  confidence  that  is  born  only  of  companionship  in  affliction. 

The  work  is  intended  to  shed  light  on  the  causes  and  results 
of  the  world's  most  monstrous  crime,  in  the  hope  that  the  knowl- 
edge will  help  in  the  consummation  of  the  great  ideal  of  all 
civilization — a  Peace  on  Earth  which  shall  endure  until  the  end 

of  time. 

Charles  J.  Vopicka 

Chicago,  Illinois 
July,  1921 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  I  PAGE 

Early  History  of  the  Balkan  Nations 1 

CHAPTER  n 
Appointed  Minister  to  the  Balkans — Assuming  Charge 
of  the  Legation — Receptions  and  Ceremonies  .  18 

CHAPTER  HI 
Some  Intimate  Glimpses  of  Royalty — The  First  War 
Cloud 24 

CHAPTER  IV 

Early  Serbian  Triumphs  on  Battlefields — Ravages  of 
Sickness 35 

CHAPTER  V 
Proof  of  Plot  between  Kaiser  Wilhelm  and  Wife  of 
Archduke  Ferdinand 46 

CHAPTER  VI 
Condition  of  Prisoners  of  War  in  Serbia    ....    51 

CHAPTER  VII 
Bulgaria  Enters  the  War— Serbian  Retreat — King 
Peter's  Heroism 63 

CHAPTER  VIII 
Last  Days  of  Queen  Elisabeth — Cause  of  Bulgarian 
Attitude 72 

CHAPTER  IX 

ROUMANIA  DURING  PERIOD  OF  NEUTRALITY  —  DECLARATION 

OF  War 78 

CHAPTER  X 
RouMANiA  Enters  War  on  the  Side  of  the  Allies — 
Conditions  of  Unpreparedness 89 

vii 


viii  CONTENTS  (Continued) 

CHAPTER  XI  PAGE 

Buried  German  Explosives  Found  in  Roumanian  Capi- 
tal—Plot TO  Inoculate  Horses  and  Cattle     .     .    98 

CHAPTER  XII 

Bucharest   Taken   by   Army   of   Central    Powers— 
Rigorous  Rule  of  General  von  Mackensen  .     .     .  105 

CHAPTER  XIII 
An  American  Reporter's  Views — The  American  Lega- 
tion Ousted 115 

CHAPTER  XIV 
Berlin  Admits  Blunder — Back  to  America — Return 
VIA  Orient  and  Russia 125 

CHAPTER  XV 
At  Jassy,  Temporary  Capital  of  Roumania — Sanitation 
Problems — Russian  Opportunity  Lost 132 

CHAPTER  XVI 
Russian   Revolution   Disrupts   Plans   and   Deprives 
Roumania  of  Assistance 144 

CHAPTER  XVII 
Defection  of  Russians  on  Roumanian  Front — Ukrainia 
Declares  Independence      156 

CHAPTER  XVIII 
Peace    Terms    Imposed    on    Roumania — Ratification 
Urged  by  Central  Powers 168 

CHAPTER  XIX 
Czecho-Slovaks  in  Russia — Valorous  Deeds  and  In- 
valuable Aid  to  Allies 180 

CHAPTER  XX 
New    Roumanian    Cabinet — Peace   Terms    Depriving 
Country  of  Most  Valuable  Resources      ....  187 

CHAPTER  XXI 
Union  of  Bessarabia  and  Roumania — Ukrainia  Being 
Germanized 195 


CONTENTS  (Continued)  ix 

CHAPTER  XXII  PAGE 

New  German  Demands  on  Roumania 203 

CHAPTER  XXIII 
Roumanian   Elections  Controlled  by   Germans — In- 
trigue AGAINST  Crown 217 

CHAPTER   XXIV 
Crops  Much  Less  Than  Food  Requirements — Elope- 
ment OF  Crown  Prince 232 

CHAPTER  XXV 
Germans  Offer  Concessions  to  Hasten  Ratification 
of  Peace  Treaty 245 

CHAPTER  XXVI 
Advice  to  Bessarabians — Securing  Justice  for  Jews 
in  Roumania 259 

CHAPTER  XXVII 
King  Ferdinand  Cables  President  Wilson — Cessation 
OF  All  Hostilities 274 

CHAPTER  XXVIII 

Proclamation  in  Bucharest  of  General  Berthelot — 
Great  Danger  of  Famine 283 

CHAPTER   XXIX 
Distressing    Shortage    of    Food — Healing    Breach 
BETWEEN   Allies   and    Roumania — Trade   Develop- 
ment       297 

CHAPTER  XXX 
Sketches   of   King   Ferdinand   and    Queen   Marie — 
Other  Roumanian  Patriots 309 

CHAPTER  XXXI 
Improbability  of  Future  European  Wars     ....  320 

CHAPTER   XXXII 
Russia's  Great  Sacrifices  and  Invaluable  Aid — Her 
Future 325 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Charles  J.  Vopicka Frontispiece 

King  Peter  of  Serbia 1 

Czar  Ferdinand  of  Bulgaria 6 

King  Carol  of  Roumania 10 

Roumanian  Residence  in  Bucharest 14 

American  Legation  in  Bucharest 14 

Royal  Palace  in  Sofia 18 

The  Black  Mosque  in  Sofia 18 

Junction  of  the  Sava  and  Danube  Rivers  in  Belgrade  22 

Fortress  in  Belgrade — View  from  the  Outside    .     .  22 

Czarina  Eleonora  of  Bulgaria 26 

On  the  Way  to  Samakov,  Bulgaria 30 

Queen   Elisabeth — "Carmen    Sylva"   of  Roumania  .  34 

Main  Street  in  Belgrade 38 

Street  Scene  in  Belgrade 38 

N.  Pachich,  Prime  Minister  of  Serbia 42 

American  Consulate  at  Nish 46 

Serbian  Metropolitan  and  Bishop  on  the  Doorsteps 
of  Their  House  in  Nish,   with  Minister  Vopicka, 

His  Wife  and  Daughter 46 

Scene  near  Valjevo,   Serbia,  after  the  Battle  be- 
tween AUSTRO-HUNGARIANS  AND  SERBIANS     ....  50 

Graves  of  Serbian  Soldiers  between  Kraljevo  and 

Cacak  in  Serbia 50 

Dr.  Jicinsky,  Commander  Gaintch,  American   Minis- 
ter Vopicka,  Dr.  Richard  Strong,  Colonel  Sola,  Dr. 

Lebel  Korovic,  Captain  Billand 55 

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN     OFFICERS,     PRISONERS     OF     WAR     IN 

Nish 59 

Hills  and  Fields  in  Gramada,  Serbia 62 

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN  WaR  PRISONERS  AT  NiSH    ....  62 

xi 


xii  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS  (Continued) 

Detention  Camp  for  Austro-Hungarian  War  Prisoners 

AT  Gramada 66 

Austro-Hungarian    War    Prisoners    Transported    in 

Railroad  Cars  in  Serbia 66 

Austro-Hungarian  Officers,  Prisoners  of  War,  Taking 

Promenade  in  Their  Park 70 

Austro-Hungarian  War  Prisoners  in  Nish   ....    70 
Park  for  Austro-Hungarian  Officers,  Prisoners  of 

War,  Nish 74 

Palace  in  Which  Austro-Hungarian  Officers,  Prison- 
ers OF  War,  Were  Interned 74 

International  Commission  Examining  Kitchen  for  the 

Austro-Hungarian  and  German  War  Prisoners  .     .     78 
Austro-Hungarian  War  Prisoners  Working  on  the 

Railroad  in  Gramada 78 

German    and    Austro-Hungarian    War    Prisoners    in 

Bucharest 82 

Royal  Palace  in  Sinaia,  Roumania 86 

Room  in  Royal  Palace  at  Sinaia 86 

Street  Group  of  Orientals        90 

Flood  of  Lepenitza  River  in  Serbia 90 

A  Serbian  Porter 94 

Market  Place  in  Nish 94 

Roumanian  King  Addressing  People 98 

Mountain  Horn  Blowers  in  Roumania 98 

Serbian  Peasants 102 

Peasant  Girl  from  Prahova,  Roumania 102 

Roumanian  Wedding 106 

Guests  at  the  Wedding 106 

At  the  Baths  in  Tekirkiol 110 

Bulgarian  Beauties 110 

Monuments  on  Tombs  of  Serbian  Soldiers  .     .     .     .114 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS  (Continued)  xiii 

PACF 

Monuments  to  Serbian  Soldiers  Who  Fell  on  the 
Battlefield,  Erected  in  Their  Villages   .     .     .     .114 

Fortress  Hotin  in  Bessarabia  (Fifteenth  Century)     .  118 

German  Prisoners  in  Roumania 118 

Scene  at  a  Railway  Station  in  Serbia 122 

Roumanian  Peasant  Bride  and  Groom 122 

Turkish  Mosque  in  Skopelje  (Uskub),  Macedonia  .     .  126 

Palace  of  the  Metropolitan  in  Cernovitz,  Bukowina  126 

Prince  Regent  Alexander  of  Serbia  in  Conference 
with  Officers  on  the  Battlefield 130 

Railway  Station  in  Serbia 130 

Vasil  Radoslavoff,  Prime  Minister  of  Bulgaria  .     .  134 

King  Boris  of  Bulgaria 139 

Prince  Cyril  of  Bulgaria 139 

Princess  Eudoxia  of  Bulgaria 143 

Princess  Nadeschda  of  Bulgaria 143 

French  Hospital  at  Vrnjanka  Banja,  Serbia  .          .  146 
Arrival  of  Schlepp  No.  229  Loaded  with  Flour  for 

the  American  Red  Cross  in  Belgrade 146 

Family  Meeting  at  Sofia 150 

A  Turkish  House  in  Macedonia 150 

Turkish  Palace  at  Bardovac,  Used  for  War  Prisoners  154 

Serbian  Fortress  at  Belgrade 154 

On  the  Road  to  Knjashevatz,  Serbia 158 

Tombs  of  Serbian  Soldiers    .          158 

Turkish  Mosque  at  Nish 162 

Turkish  Mosque  at  Uskub,  Macedonia 166 

Wall  around  the  Prison  in  which  Austro-Hungarian 
Prisoners  Were  Interned  in  Bardovac,  Macedonia  166 

At  the  Funeral  of  Queen  Elisabeth 170 

Prince  Nicolai  of  Roumania  in  the  Parade  on  May  10  170 
At  the  American  Consulate  in  Belgrade     ....  174 


xiv  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS  (Continued) 

PAGE 

Talking  with  English  Lieutenant  Who  Was  at  the 
Head  of  the  English  War  Prisoners'  Camp  in  Phil- 
ippopoLis,  Bulgaria 174 

Minister  Vopicka,  Consul  General  Murphy,  Colonel 
Yates  and  Captain  Klepal,  Visiting  Camp  of  Eng- 
lish War  Prisoners  at  Plovdivo,  Philippopolis    .     .178 

Detention  Camp  of  English  War  Prisoners  at  Phil- 
ippopolis       178 

Royal  Palace  at  Sinaia,  Roumania 182 

King  Ferdinand  I  of  Roumania 186 

Tileajen  Valley — View  of  Monastery 190 

Room  in  the  Royal  Palace  in  Sinaia 190 

Diplomats  at  the  Funeral  of  King  Carol  of  Rou- 
mania        194 

Roumanian  Cottage 194 

Jon.  I.  C.  Bratianu 198 

Prince  B.  Stirbey 202 

Take  Jonescu 206 

Nicu  FiLiPESCU 210 

Pavilion  at  the  Race  Track  in  Bucharest  ....  214 
The  Pavilion  of  the  Queen,  in  Constanza,  Roumania     .  214 

Roumanian  Street  Peddlers 218 

Fortress  in  Brassov,  Transylvania 222 

Bridge  over  Danube  River  at  Cerna  Voda,  Roumania, 
Destroyed  by  the  German  Army 222 

Traveling  on  the  Railroads  in  Roumania  during  the 
War .     .     ^ 226 

Town  of  Campulung  in  Walachia 226 

Roumanian  General  Staff 230 

Monastery  at  Tismana,  Roumania  —  Church  from 
Fourteenth  Century 230 

Minister  Vopicka  Addressing  German  War  Prisoners 
in  Bucharest 234 

Monastery  in  Putna,  Bukowina,  now  Part  of  Roumania  234 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS  (Continued)  xv 

^  ,  ,  PAGE 

Episcopalian  Palace  and  Church  of  the  Monastery 

AT  CURTEA  DE  ARGESH   IN   ROUMANIA 238 

BiSTRiTZA  Valley  in  Walachia 238 

AJ.EXANDER  Marghiloman 242 

MiHAiL  Pherekyde 246 

Alexander  Constantinescu 250 

General  Averescu 254 

Small  Steamer  "  Rannenfjord,  "  Which  Brought  Min- 
ister VopicKA  FROM  Norway  to  America    ....  258 

Jassy,  Moldavia 258 

The  Four  Allied  Ministers  at  Jassy 263 

Reception  by  King  Ferdinand  I  of  Roumania,  of  Amer- 
ican Minister  Vopicka,  Military  Attache'  Colonel 
Yates,  and  Colonel  Anderson  of  the  American  Red 
Cross,  ON  THE  Steps  OF  THE  Royal  Palace  IN  Jassy  .     .  266 

Princess  Elisabeth  of  Roumania  with  Prominent 
Roumanian  Ladies  as  Hospital  Attendants  at  Her 
Hospital  in  Jassy,  with  Minister  Vopicka  and  Col- 
onel Anderson  of  the  American  Red  Cross  .  .  271 

Queen  Marie  at  the  Canteen  of  the  American  Red 
Cross  in  Jassy  with  Colonel  Anderson 274 

Members  of  the  American  Red  Cross  Commission,  and 
Doctors  and  Nurses  for  Roumania,  at  Jassy  .  .  274 

First  Trip  of  Minister  Vopicka  to  Address  the  Rus- 
sian Soldiers  near  Galatz,  Roumania,  with  Rouma- 
nian Minister  A.  Constantinescu,  American  Mili- 
tary Attache  Colonel  Yates,  Colonel  Glasgow  and 
Major  Flexner,  Members  of  the  American  Red 
Cross 278 

Russian  Military  Headquarters  at  Ajud,  Roumania  .  278 

Minister  Vopicka  Speaking  to  Russian  Soldiers  in 
SuccAVA 282 


XVI  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS  (Continued) 

PAGE 

Minister  Vopicka  Addressing  Russian  Soldiers  .     .  282 

Scene  on  the  Way  to  the  Trenches  Occupied  by  Rus- 
sian Troops  in  Roumania 282 

View  of  Kishenev  in  Bessarabia 286 

SiBiu,  or  Hermannstadt,  in  Transylvania 286 

General  Grigorescu 290 

King  and  Queen  of  Roumania,  with  Generals  and 
Ministers,  in  Transylvania 294 

Members  of  American  Food  Commission  in  Roumania  294 

Czecho-Slovak  War  Prisoners  Who  Came  to  Roumania 
.    from  Russia,  Waiting  for  a  Chance  to  Fight  for  the 

Allies 299 

Petroleum  Wells  in  the  Valley  of  Campina,  Roumania  302 

Petroleum  Refinery  at  Campina 302 

T.  G.  Masaryk,  President  of  Czecho-Slovakia  .  .  306 

Visit  of  the  President  of  the  Czecho-Slovak  Republic 
TO  Roumania 306 

Queen  Marie  and  Princess  Illiana  among  the  Orphans  310 

Princess  Illiana  of  Roumania 310 

On  the  Diplomatic  Platform,  at  the  Celebration  of 
May  10  IN  Bucharest 315 

On  the  Reviewing  Stand  on  May  10  in  Bucharest     .  319 

Queen  Marie  of  Roumania 322 

Woodrow  Wilson 326 

Decorations  Accorded  Mr.  Vopicka— Serbian  Order 
OF  the  White  Eagle  1st  Class — Roumanian  Order 
of  Mare  Cruce 330 


SECRETS   OP^    THE    BALKANS 


King  Peter  of  Serbia 


SECRETS    OF    THE    BALKANS 


T 


CHAPTER  I 

EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE  BALKAN  NATIONS 

O   understand   fully   the   Balkan   situation   at  the 

outset  of  the  World  War,  it  is  necessary  to  know 
the  history  of  the  several  states  through  their  many 
centuries  of  almost  continual  bloody  strife. 

The  Balkans  have  been  termed  "The  Hotbed  of 
European  Politics."  To  one  not  conversant  with  the 
facts,  this  might  seem  to  imply  that  the  inhabitants  of 
this  area  were  natural  trouble  makers;  that  all  the  strife 
originated  here,  and  kept  the  peaceful  nations  outside  in 
a  constant  state  of  anxiety. 

But  the  truth  is  that,  owing  to  its  natural  resources 
and  its  geographical  position,  the  Balkan  Peninsula  has 
ever  been  a  tempting  prize,  to  be  won  by  conquest,  and 
it  has  been  the  victim  of  more  invasions,  and  consequent 
devastation,  than  any  other  civilized  region  on  earth. 

The  peoples  of  the  different  states  have  at  times 
quarrelled  and  fought  with  each  other,  and  occasionally 
one  took  a  slice  of  the  other's  territory,  but  in  the  main 
their  wars  have  been  waged  with  invaders  who  sought  to 
enslave  them,  or  with  their  conquerors,  whose  yoke  of 
slavery  they  bravely  threw  off. 

During  very  many  of  the  last  fifteen  hundred  years 
they  were  engaged  in  war,  but  almost  always  they  were 
fighting  for  freedom. 

To  the  vicissitudes  of  fortune  through  which  they 
have  passed,  from  peace  and  plenty  to  utter  misery,  the 
physical  hardiness  and  indomitable  spirit  of  the  present 
day  temperamental  Balkanic  peoples  may  be  ascribed. 

1 


2  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

The  Balkan  Peninsula  is  situated  in  southeastern 
Europe,  touching  the  Adriatic,  ^Egean  and  Black  Seas. 
Balkan  is  a  Turkish  word,  applied  to  a  range  of  mountains. 
This  range,  terminating  at  the  Black  Sea,  is  really  an 
extension  of  the  Carpathians.  Generally  the  country  is 
hilly,  with  an  abundance  of  water  supplied  to  the  fertile 
valleys  by  rivers  and  many  small  streams.  In  early 
times  there  were  the  provinces  of  Paunonia,  Dalmatia, 
Thrace,  Mcesia  and  Dacia,  the  latter  comprising  modem 
Walachia  and  Transylvania.  These  provinces  were 
united  by  Emperor  Trajan,  and  up  to  the  end  of  the 
third  century  were  benefited  by  the  influences  of  Roman 
civilization. 

During  the  reign  of  Constantine  the  Great,  in  the 
fourth  century,  the  Huns  came  from  Asia  and  settled 
on  the  European  shores  of  the  Black  Sea.  Later  on,  the 
empire  was  divided,  the  western  portion  being  Latin  and 
the  eastern  part  Greek.  By  both,  the  Albanians  were 
driven  to  their  present  territory.  At  times,  the  Chris- 
tians on  the  peninsula  waged  war  on  each  other.  In  the 
fifth  century,  the  Huns  occupied  the  present  Hungarian 
territory,  frequently  raiding  and  devastating  sections  of 
the  Balkan  Peninsula.  In  the  year  453  the  Huns 
returned  to  Asia,  but  in  the  latter  part  of  the  century 
they  again  invaded  the  Balkans.  As  a  result  of  the 
constant  invasions  and  warfare,  the  Balkan  inhabitants 
lapsed  into  a  state  of  semi-barbarism. 

In  the  sixth  century,  the  Slavs  first  appeared,  coming 
from  what  is  now  Galicia  in  Poland.  They  were  a 
peaceful  people,  with  little  organization  and  no  import- 
ant leaders,  but  with  them  came  hordes  of  the  Avars, 
who  were  a  type  similar  to  the  Huns,  and  equally  dreaded. 
But  early  in  the  eighth  century  the  Avars  disappeared, 


r 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BALKAN  NATIONS 


and  the  Slavs  spread  out  all  over  the  country.  Those 
who  entered  Macedonia  and  Greece  lost  their  identity, 
and  the  few  who  remained  in  Dacia  transmitted  to  the 
present  Roumanian  language  its  words  of  Slavic  origin. 
With  the  expulsion  of  the  Avars,  Greek  settlers  appeared 
and  later  these  and  the  Slavs  intermarried. 

The  exact  date  of  the  advent  of  the  Serbians  in  the 
Balkan  Peninsula  is  uncertain,  but  they  were  known  to 
be  in  the  Byzantine  provinces  in  the  year  637.  The  first 
Serbian  state  was  established  at  the  end  of  the  eighth 
century  under  the  leader  Zupan  of  Zagorye,  under  whose 
grandson  the  limits  of  Serbia  were  considerably  extended. 
After  his  death,  Serbia  lost  her  independence  and  became 
part  of  Bulgaria  under  Kings  Boris  First,  Simeon,  and 
Samuel.  After  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1018,  Serbia 
became  part  of  Byzantium,  and  remained  under  Greek 
control  until  the  latter  part  of  the  twelfth  century, 
when  Stephan  Nemanya  united  the  Serbians  in  revolt. 
He  founded  the  Nemanyich  dynasty,  which  ruled  until 
1371.  His  son  Stephan  was  proclaimed  the  first  Serbian 
king,  and  a  later  descendant  was  King  Stephan  Dushan 
Nemanyich,  who  united  in  one  kingdom  Serbia,  Albania, 
Greece,  Bulgaria  and  part  of  Macedonia.  He  was  called 
Emperor  of  the  Greeks,  Bulgarians,  and  Serbians. 

He  made  civil  and  criminal  laws,  and  the  empire 
generally  prospered  during  his  reign,  but  after  his  sudden 
death  in  1355,  dissension  arose,  and  the  great  empire 
was  divided  under  different  rulers.  King  Lazar,  of  the 
Nemanyich  dynasty,  who  ruled  the  northern  portion, 
attempted  to  unite  all  the  neighboring  countries  in  a 
great  drive  against  the  Turks.  But  they  were  disas- 
trously defeated  by  the  Turks  under  Sultan  Murad 
First,  on  the  field  of  Kosovo,  June  15,  1389,  both  leaders 
losing  their  lives. 


4  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Serbian  independence  continued  only  until  1459, 
when  the  Turks  became  masters  of  the  entire  Balkan 
Peninsula,  and  thereafter,  for  over  three  hundred  years, 
the  Serbians  and  other  conquered  nations  were  treated 
with  great  cruelty  and  oppression.  They  had  no  rights 
or  privileges  whatever  and  were  forced  to  pay  heavy 
tribute. 

The  Turkish  oppression  became  unbearable,  and  the 
first  steps  to  throw  off  the  yoke  were  taken  by  a  number 
of  the  young  men  of  Serbia,  who  organized  in  bands  and 
made  their  haven  in  the  mountains.  These  were  known 
as  the  Hajduks  (Hydooks).  Whenever  instances  of 
Turkish  cruelty  became  known  to  them,  they  were  swift 
and  terrible  in  their  vengeance,  and  they  became  so 
greatly  feared  that  tyrannous  actions  ceased  in  many 
places.  Through  them,  the  Serbian  church  and  the 
Violonists  (Gooslars),  the  memory  of  former  Serbian 
independence  was  kept  alive. 

Among  the  Turks,  the  real  fighters  were  the  Janis- 
saries. These  were  young  men  who  had  been  stolen  in 
childhood  from  Christian  parents,  and  had  been  reared 
as  Turks  and  given  only  military  education  and  training. 
Under  Turkish  guidance  they  were  made  cruel  and  mer- 
ciless to  the  utmost.  Only  the  diabolical  Turkish  mind 
could  conceive  of  making  fiends  of  men  in  order  to  turn 
them  unwittingly  against  their  own  flesh  and  blood. 

Under  the  orders  of  their  Dahees,  or  Captains,  the 
Janissaries  set  about  the  execution  of  the  most  prominent 
Serbians.  In  one  week,  the  heads  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  leading  men  were  sent  to  the  Janissaries'  head- 
quarters in  Belgrade,  and  very  few  in  that  section  were 
able  to  escape.  Among  those  who  did  escape  at  this 
time  was  Georges  Petrovitch,  called  Kara  Georges,  or 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BALKAN  NATIONS  5 

Georges  the  Black,  the  leader  of  the  Hajduks  living  in 
the  village  of  Popola.  All  able-bodied  men  who  could 
gain  the  mountain  retreats  were  organized  in  1804  under 
the  leadership  of  Kara  Georges,  and  descending  on  the 
Janissaries,  they  speedily  put  them  to  death.  In  1805, 
the  Serbians  won  a  decisive  battle  with  the  Turks,  and 
in  1807,  Serbia  was  free,  from  Drina  to  Timok. 

Kara  Georges  at  times  was  as  violent  as  he  was  brave. 
He  declared  to  the  Serbians  who  sought  his  leadership 
that  he  would  kill  anyone  who  disobeyed  him,  but  the 
answer  was  that  they  wanted  just  that  kind  of  a  man. 

To  the  unspeakable  woe  of  Serbia,  the  English  and 
French  did  not  approve  of  her  struggle  for  independence, 
and  they  inflicted  great  damage  on  the  Serbian  revolu- 
tionists in  a  great  battle  at  Cuprije.  In  their  desperate 
dilemma,  the  Serbians  turned  to  Russia,  and  were  there 
promised  support,  but  the  Russians  being  obliged  to 
make  peace  in  Bucharest  in  1812,  the  unfortunate  Ser- 
bians were  again  left  friendless. 

Then  Georges  the  Black  was  stricken  with  typhus, 
and  the  Turks  attacked  Serbia  on  three  sides  and  gained 
an  easy  victory.  Later  Kara  Georges  left  his  country  in 
order  to  consult  with  the  Russian  Czar,  but  he  was  de- 
tained by  the  military  commandant  at  Varazdin,  and 
therefore  failed  to  see  the  Czar.  In  October,  1813, 
complete  defeat  of  the  Serbians  was  accomplished,  and 
from  that  time  to  the  end  of  January,  1815,  Belgrade 
was  a  shambles,  with  a  multitude  of  Serbians  the  victims. 

After  the  departure  of  Georges  the  Black  and  other 
prominent  men,  Serbia  was  bereft  of  all  her  capable 
leaders,  save  one.  This  was  Miloch  Obrenovitch,  who 
declared  to  his  people  that  he  would  not  forsake  them 
in   any  circumstances.     But   with   the   Turks,   Miloch 


6  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

dissembled.  He  came  to  Belgrade  to  offer  the  submission 
of  the  Serbians,  and  was  accepted  by  the  Turks  as  the 
Serbian  representative.  On  the  surface  he  kept  every- 
thing peaceful  for  eighteen  months,  but  at  the  same 
time  he  was  secretly  organizing  the  Serbians. 

In  1815  he  led  the  Serbians  successfully  against  the 
Turks  in  several  battles,  and  in  1816  Serbia  was  granted 
autonomy.  Immediately  after  this,  Kara  Georges  re- 
turned, which  fact  was  reported  by  Veyvoda  Miloch  to 
the  Turkish  Vizier  in  Belgrade,  who  at  once  demanded 
Georges'  head.  Soon  after,  Kara  Georges  was  killed 
while  asleep,  and  some  of  the  Serbians  accused  Miloch 
of  the  murder.  This  started  a  feud  between  the  two 
families  of  Obrenovitch  and  Georgevitch,  which  resulted 
in  the  assassination  of  Prince  Michael  Obrenovitch  in 
1868,  and  of  King  Alexander,  the  last  Obrenovitch,  in 
1903. 

Veyvoda  Miloch  made  an  excellent  leader.  He  was 
a  good  statesman,  diplomat  and  business  man.  Under 
his  rule  the  peasants  were  given  land,  and  allowed  to 
keep  what  they  occupied.  In  1817  he  was  given  the 
title  of  Prince  of  Serbia,  which  rank  was  approved  by 
the  Russians  and  the  Turks.  He  had  a  serious  dispute 
with  Russia  regarding  the  form  of  government,  Miloch 
claiming  that  the  authority  should  be  vested  in  him  and 
in  the  Skuptstina,  or  Parliament,  under  the  constitution 
which  he  granted  the  people,  but  as  he  had  proclaimed 
this  constitution  without  first  obtaining  the  consent  of 
Russia  and  the  Sublime  Porte,  he  was  obliged  to  with- 
draw it,  and  Russia  and  Turkey  substituted  a  new  con- 
sitution  under  which  the  power  was  vested  in  a  senate 
consisting  of  seventeen  members,  who  were  controlled 
by  the  Porte.     His  opposition  to  this  made  enemies,  who, 


Czar   Fi-kdinand  of  Bilgaria 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BALKjVN  NATIONS  7 

with  the  assistance  of  Russia,  compelled  him  to  abdicate 
in  1839.  His  son,  Obrenovitch  III,  succeeded  him,  but 
in  a  short  time  he  was  also  compelled  to  leave  the  country. 

In  1847,  Alexander  Karageorgevitch,  son  of  Georges 
the  Black,  was  called  to  the  throne.  During  his  reign, 
Serbia  was  at  peace  with  the  Porte  and  with  Austria. 
He  incurred  the  enmity  of  Russia  after  the  defeat  of  that 
country  in  the  Crimean  war.  Russia  expected  Serbia 
to  engage  Turkey  in  war,  but  the  Senate  voted  against 
it,  and  from  that  time,  Austrian  influence  in  Serbia  was 
stronger  than  Russian.  But  Russian  machinations  suc- 
ceeded in  turning  the  Serbian  people  against  Prince 
Alexander  as  an  Austrophile,  and  he  was  deposed  in  1858. 

Miloch  Obrenovitch  was  then  called  from  exile  to 
the  throne,  but  he  died  in  a  short  time,  and  his  son, 
Michael  Obrenovitch  HI,  was  again  made  ruler.  He 
succeeded  in  having  all  the  Turkish  fortresses  in  Serbia 
turned  over  to  the  Serbians,  having  gained  the  approval 
of  the  European  Powers,  which  removed  the  last  vestige 
of  Turkish  control  in  Serbia.  Less  than  a  year  later  he 
was  murdered  near  Belgrade,  and  while  it  was  charged 
the  deed  was  done  by  friends  of  the  Karageorgevitch 
dynasty,  no  proof  was  secured. 

As  he  left  no  heirs,  Milan,  the  son  of  Prince  Michael, 
took  the  throne  as  Obrenovitch.  Being  only  fourteen 
years  old,  a  vice-regent  acted  for  him.  During  the  vice- 
regency,  two  political  parties  were  formed,  the  Progress- 
ionist and  the  Radical.  In  1871,  when  Prince  Milan 
became  of  age,  he  sided  with  the  Radicals,  but  in  1880 
he  turned  to  the  Progressionists.  In  1876  he  declared 
war  against  Turkey,  but  was  defeated.  This  war  caused 
Czar  Alexander  II  to  proclaim  war  against  Turkey. 

After  the  fall  of  Plevna,  the  Serbian  army  joined  the 


8  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Russians,  Bulgarians  and  Roumanians,  and  compelled 
the  Turks  to  evacuate  nearly  all  the  occupied  territory  in 
Serbia.  When  peace  was  established,  the  Russians  were 
unwilling  to  allow  Serbia's  claims,  and  at  the  Berlin 
congress  advised  Serbia  to  confer  with  Austria  about 
them.  It  was  therefore  through  Austria  that  Serbia 
obtained  this  desired  territory. 

Thereafter,  Prince  Milan  ignored  Russia  and  became 
a  real  Austrophile,  spending  more  of  his  time  in  Vienna 
than  in  Belgrade.  Against  popular  opinion  he  started 
war  with  Bulgaria,  but  was  unsuccessful.  This,  coupled 
with  his  treatment  of  his  wife,  Natalie,  led  to  his  enforced 
abdication  in  1889,  in  favor  of  his  son,  Alexander,  then 
thirteen  years  old. 

At  seventeen,  Alexander  declared  himself  of  age  and 
began  to  reign.  But  he  soon  lost  the  good  will  of  both 
Russia  and  Austria,  and  after  he  married  the  beautiful 
widow  of  an  engineer,  eight  years  older  than  himself,  he 
had  few  friends  left.  June  11,  1903,  he  and  his  wife 
were  brutally  murdered  in  the  palace  at  Belgrade  by  a 
body  of  officers.  After  his  death,  the  National  Assembly 
selected  as  king,  Peter  Karageorgevitch,  grandson  of  the 
first  leader  against  the  Turks,  who  is  the  present  ruler.* 

The  Bulgarians  came  from  Eastern  Asia  in  the  fifth 
century,  mingling  with  the  Huns  up  to  the  seventh 
century,  and  later  with  the  Avars  and  the  Slavs.  They 
first  settled  on  the  Volga  River,  but  being  progressive 
and  desirous  of  expansion,  they  moved  southwest  and 
created  a  new  settlement  on  the  north  of  the  Black 
Sea,  which  was  known  as  Black  Bulgaria. 

Early  in  the  seventh  century,  under  Prince  Kubrat, 

*  King  Peter  died  in  August,  1921. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BALKAN  NATIONS  9 

their  territory  was  extended  from  the  Volga  to  the 
Danube,  but  after  his  death  it  was  divided,  his  two  sons 
each  ruling  a  portion.  One  division  was  established  in 
Paunonia  until  the  arrival  of  the  Magyars,  toward  the 
end  of  the  ninth  century,  and  the  other  for  a  time  in 
Bessarabia,  whence  the  majority  later  moved  south, 
although  some  remained,  and  their  descendants  live 
there  at  the  present  time. 

In  660,  Asparukh,  one  of  Kubrat's  sons,  captured 
Varna  from  the  Greeks,  and  in  679  his  territory  extended 
from  the  Danube  to  the  Balkan  range.  In  the  subse- 
quent fusion  with  the  Slavs,  the  original  Bulgarian 
language  was  lost,  being  superseded  by  the  present 
tongue,  which  is  almost  wholly  Slavonic,  with  the 
inclusion  of  some  Turkish  words. 

From  the  beginning  of  their  occupation  of  this 
territory,  there  was  enmity  between  them  and  the 
Greeks,  and  for  two  hundred  years  war  was  frequently 
waged  between  the  two  countries,  but  when  the  Arabs 
attempted  seizure  of  Constantinople,  they  combined  in 
successful  resistance  to  the  invaders.  At  the  end  of 
the  eighth  century,  the  Bulgarians,  under  Krum,  over- 
came the  Avars.  Krum  was  then  made  king,  and 
under  his  rule  the  Bulgars  north  and  south  of  the  Danube 
were  united  in  one  kingdom,  law  and  order  established, 
commerce  and  agriculture  stimulated,  and  the  country 
made  prosperous.  In  809  he  wrested  Sofia  from  the 
Greeks,  and  that  city  is  the  Bulgarian  capital  to-day. 

Christianity  was  adopted  by  the  Bulgars  under 
King  Boris,  who  endeavored  to  establish  a  church 
independent  of  the  Greeks.  For  a  while  the  country 
was  under  the  sway  of  Rome,  due  to  the  efforts  of  two 
bishops  sent  to  Bulgaria  by  Pope  Nicolas  I.    Under 


10        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Adrian  II,  the  next  ruler,  the  church  was  directly  under 
the  Bishop  of  Constantinople. 

King  Boris  united  the  different  Slavic  tribes  so 
that  his  kingdom  included  parts  of  Macedonia,  Serbia 
and  Roumania.  His  son  Simeon  retained  all  this,  and 
added  to  it  Thrace  and  the  remainder  of  Macedonia, 
and  under  his  successor.  King  Samuel,  the  kingdom 
attained  its  greatest  expanse.  This  is  called  the  golden 
period  of  Bulgarian  history. 

Bulgaria  was  conquered  during  the  reign  of  the 
Greek  emperor  Basil  II,  and  for  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  the  country  was  under  Byzantine  domination. 
In  1186,  under  Czars  Assen  and  Kaloyan,  Bulgaria 
revolted  and  regained  her  independence.  Conditions 
steadily  improved,  and  under  Assen  II,  at  the  begirming 
of  the  thirteenth  century,  Bulgaria  was  prosperous  and 
happy.  But  after  his  death,  she  was  conquered  by 
Serbia  and  annexed  to  that  country.  With  the  dis- 
astrous defeat  of  Serbia  on  the  field  of  Kosovo  the  Turks 
came  into  control,  and  in  1393  all  the  Balkanic  states 
were  under  the  tyrannous  dominion  of  Turkey. 

In  common  with  the  other  Balkan  peoples,  the  lot 
of  the  Bulgarians  was  misery  beyond  expression.  Con- 
ditions of  the  infamous  Turkish  rule  were  known  to  the 
European  nations,  but  for  centuries  no  effort  was  made 
to  halt  or  even  mitigate  the  horrible  cruelty.  This 
apparent  apathy  was  due  to  political  reasons,  each 
nation  fearing  possible  advantage  to  another  through 
territorial  changes,  and  no  such  change  could  be  made 
satisfactory  to  all  the  political  powers  concerned. 

So  the  Turks  were  allowed  to  pursue  their  policy 
of  aimihilation  of  all  who  would  not  adopt  the  Turkish 
faith  in  place  of  their  own,  and  unhappy  Bulgaria  suf- 


King  Carol  of  Roimaxia 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BALKAN  NATIONS         11 

fered  without  hope  until  1877,  when  Czar  Ferdinand  II 
of  Russia  made  war  on  Turkey  for  the  liberation  of 
the  Balkan  nations.  With  the  Russian  army  were 
those  of  Roumania  and  Bulgaria,  and  after  the  fall 
of  Plevna,  the  Serbians  also  joined.  Turkey  was  forced 
to  capitulate,  and  Bulgaria  was  declared  an  independent 
state,  with  territory  located  between  Constantinople, 
Adrianople,  Chalcidice  and  Salonika. 

But  again  there  was  dissatisfaction,  through  fear  of 
the  ascendancy  of  Russian  influence  in  the  Balkans; 
and  other  nations,  England  and  Germany  particularly, 
decreed  that  northern  and  southern  Bulgaria  should 
have  autonomy  under  a  Christian  governor  appointed 
by  the  Porte.  Macedonia  was  left  to  Turkey,  and 
Dobrudja  given  to  Roumania. 

After  the  liberation  of  Bulgaria,  the  first  ruler, 
elected  in  1879,  was  Prince  Alexander  of  Battenberg, 
nephev/  of  the  Empress  of  Russia.  In  September,  1885, 
he  proclaimed  the  union  of  Bulgaria  and  Eastern  Rumelia, 
an  act  of  great  popularity  with  the  people  but  not 
approved  by  Russia  and  Austria.  Influenced  by  these 
latter  countries,  King  Milan  of  Serbia  made  war  on 
Bulgaria,  the  pretext  being  that  Serbia  was  entitled  to 
share  in  Bulgaria's  territorial  aggrandizement.  But  even 
the  Serbians  were  not  in  sympathy  with  the  attitude  of 
their  ruler,  and  they  were  easily  defeated.  They  could 
not  understand  why  people  of  the  same  religion  should  fight. 

On  August  21,  1886,  some  officers  who  were  Russo- 
philes  forced  Prince  Alexander  to  resign,  and  they 
conducted  him  to  Reni,  in  Bessarabia,  whence  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Lemberg.  But  many  Bulgarians  objected, 
and  a  revolution  headed  by  Stambulov,  a  prominent 
diplomat,   resulted   in   returning   Prince   Alexander   to 


12        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Sofia  on  September  3,  when  he  received  a  great  ovation. 
However,  Czar  Alexander  III  of  Russia  forced  him  to 
abdicate,  and  September  7,  1886,  he  left  Bulgaria  for 
the  last  time,  dying  in  1893. 

Stambulov,  who  was  made  president  of  the  Sobranje 
in  1884,  held  the  reins  of  government  from  1886  to  1894. 
He  was  very  capable  but  had  great  personal  ambition, 
and  his  unscrupulous  methods  and  tyranny  made  him 
very  unpopular.  He  was  succeeded  by  Prince  Ferdinand 
of  Saxe-Coburg,  the  present  Czar. 

According  to  their  traditions,  the  Roumanians,  at 
the  beginning  of  the  second  century,  occupied  the  terri- 
tory between  the  rivers  Dniester,  Tissa  and  Danube, 
then  known  as  Dacia.  At  this  time  the  Romans  entered 
the  country.  In  the  third  century,  the  country  was 
overrun  by  the  wild  tribes,  first  the  Goths,  and  then 
the  Huns  and  Avars,  and  the  Dacians  retired  to  the 
mountains  of  Transylvania.  In  the  sixth  and  seventh 
centuries,  the  Slavs  entered  the  Balkan  Peninsula  by 
way  of  Dacia. 

At  the  end  of  the  eighth  century,  the  Hungarians 
occupied  the  territory  between  the  rivers  Tissa  and 
Danube,  and  for  many  years  after  there  was  warfare 
between  them  and  the  Roumanians,  terminating  in  the 
partial  subjugation  of  the  latter.  The  Roumanians 
were,  however,  granted  autonomy  for  about  three 
hundred  years,  and  the  two  nations  were  at  peace  until 
religious  dissension  caused  a  renewal  of  hostilities.  In 
the  early  part  of  the  fourteenth  century  the  Hungarians 
were  successively  defeated  by  forces  under  leadership  of 
Prince  Basarab  I,  of  Walachia,  and  Prince  Bogdan  of 
Moldavia,  and  the  Roumanians  gained  independence. 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BALKAN  NATIONS         13 

Toward  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,  Transyl- 
vania, Walachia  and  Moldavia  were  united  under  the 
rule  of  one  of  the  best  loved  of  the  Roumanian  kings, 
Michel  the  Brave,  but  Transylvania  was  retaken  by  the 
Hungarians  and  held  by  them  under  oppressive  rule 
during  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries.  At 
the  time  of  the  conquest  of  the  Balkan  states  by  Turkey, 
at  the  end  of  the  fourteenth  century,  Walachia  was  also 
beset  by  the  Hungarians  and  Germans,  and  for  protec- 
tion King  Mirtcha  entered  into  an  alliance  with  the 
Poles,  in  which  Moldavia  joined  later,  and  the  combined 
forces  of  the  three  defeated  the  Germans  in  1422. 

Dear  to  all  the  Roumanians  is  the  name  of  Stephen 
the  Great,  held  to  be  the  foremost  of  their  kings.  He 
successfully  led  his  people  against  all  their  enemies, 
including  Tartars,  Poles  and  Hungarians,  and  achieved 
his  greatest  victory  in  the  defeat  of  the  Turkish  army 
in  1475.  Later  the  Turks  sent  an  army  of  200,000 
under  Mahomed  II,  the  conqueror  of  Constantinople, 
but  during  the  life  of  Stephen,  this  great  force  was  unable 
to  gain  any  lasting  advantage.  But  after  his  death, 
the  Turks  overcame  the  Roumanians,  and  for  two 
hundred  years  thereafter  held  them  in  a  condition  of 
miserable  bondage. 

At  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,  the  Roumanian 
prince,  Michel  the  Brave,  led  his  people  to  victory  over 
the  Turks  and  liberated  his  country.  All  the  Roumanian 
people  were  then  united,  so  Michel  was  ruler  over 
the  territory  now  known  as  Great  Roumania.  He 
adopted  the  title  of  Prince  of  Walachia,  Transylvania 
and  Moldavia.  He  was  murdered  in  1601,  but  is  still 
regarded  as  one  of  the  best  loved  princes  of  Roumania. 

After  his  death,  the  Turks  again  gained  control,  and 


14  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

treated  the  people  with  great  cruelty  up  to  the  beginning 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  Prince  Constantine 
Brancovanu  of  Walachia  and  Prince  Demetrius  Cantemir 
made  a  treaty  with  Russia.  But  Peter  the  Great,  of 
Russia,  was  defeated  by  the  Turks,  and  while  the  Prince 
of  Moldavia  escaped  to  Russia,  Prince  Brancovanu  was 
captured  and  taken  to  Constantinople,  where  he,  his 
sons  and  son-in-law  were  beheaded.  For  several  years 
thereafter,  the  Turks  sent  Greek  emissaries  to  Roumania 
to  collect  the  tribute  imposed,  and  these  treated  the 
Roumanians  with  great  injustice.  They  also  established 
Greek  as  the  court  language  in  Roumania,  and  this 
continued  in  use  up  to  1857. 

In  1775,  Austria  took  from  Roumania  the  northern 
part  of  Moldavia,  which  was  afterwards  known  as 
Bucowina.  In  1812,  by  the  terms  of  a  treaty  between 
Turkey  and  Russia,  the  latter  acquired  the  territory  of 
Bessarabia,  which  was  taken  from  the  Roumanians. 
In  1821  a  revolution  broke  out  in  Moldavia  and  Walachia, 
which  resulted  in  compelling  the  Turks  to  withdraw  the 
Turkish  and  Greek  rulers,  and  in  their  place  substitute 
members  of  the  Roumanian  nobility.  Naturally  these 
latter  did  all  in  their  power  to  improve  the  condition  of 
their  countrymen.  Another  revolution  took  place  in 
1848,  but  nothing  was  gained  by  it. 

After  the  Crimean  war  in  1856,  Roumania  was  put 
under  protection  of  the  great  powers,  established  at  the 
Paris  Congress,  and  Bessarabia  was  returned  to  her. 
In  1858  the  Paris  Congress  permitted  the  union  of 
Moldavia  and  Walachia,  but  required  that  they  have 
separate  rulers.  Nevertheless,  a  year  later,  Alexander 
Jon  Cuza  was  elected  to  rule  over  both  countries.  With 
the  aid  of  France,  this  amalgamation  eventually  gained 


Roumanian  Residence  in  Bucharest 


American  Legation  ix  Bucharest 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BALKAN  NATIONS         15 

recognition,  and  in  1861  the  first  Roumanian  parliament 
met. 

A  new  era  for  Roumania  began  with  the  reign  of 
Prince  Cuza.  Sound  laws  were  promulgated,  agrarian 
reforms  instituted,  schools  erected,  education  was  made 
free  and  the  welfare  of  the  common  people  was  given 
due  consideration.  After  the  abdication  of  this  prince, 
Roumania  elected,  by  plebiscite,  Prince  Charles  of 
Hohenzollem  Sigmaringen. 

He  augmented  the  work  begun  by  Prince  Cuza  and 
the  country  prospered.  He  organized  the  army  which 
aided  the  Russians  in  the  war  with  Turkey  for  the 
liberation  of  the  Balkan  states.  For  her  participation 
Roumania  again  received  Dobrudja,  which  had  been 
taken  from  her  by  the  Turks  in  the  fifteenth  century, 
but  on  the  other  hand,  Russia  deprived  her  of  Bessarabia, 
claiming  this  as  her  just  reward,  it  being  the  only  territory 
bordering  on  her  own. 

However,  Roumania  gained  her  independence,  and 
was  recognized  as  a  kingdom  in  1880.  The  loss  of 
Bessarabia  rankled,  and  in  1887  Roumania  made  a  treaty 
with  the  triple  alliance  of  Germany,  Austro-Hungar>^ 
and  Italy.  This  action  was  much  criticized,  but  the  Rou- 
manian heads  of  state  were  certain  it  would  result  bene- 
ficially to  their  country.  After  the  second  Balkanic 
war,  Roumania's  territory  was  increased  by  the  addition 
of  Silistria,  received  from  Bulgaria,  and  secured  to  her 
by  the  treaty  of  Bucharest.  On  the  south  this  territorv 
adjoined  Dobrudja,  already  in  her  possession. 

Since  the  year  1878,  all  the  Balkan  States  had  been 
free,  with  the  exception  of  Macedonia.  In  1912,  news- 
papers throughout   the   civilized   world   were  printing 

2 


16        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

frequent  accounts  of  great  atrocities  committed  by  the 
Turks,  and  many  were  advocating  the  Hberation  of 
Macedonia,  in  which  the  conditions  were  most  horrible. 

But  as  similar  conditions  had  existed  and  had  been 
known  to  the  European  powers  for  centuries,  with  no 
attempt  on  their  part  to  alleviate  the  misery,  the  four 
Balkan  States,  Bulgaria,  Serbia,  Greece  and  Montenegro, 
united  in  a  war  on  Turkey  to  set  the  Macedonians  free. 
Among  themselves  they  made  an  agreement  whereby 
Greece  was  to  annex  the  southern  portion  of  Macedonia 
and  Albania,  Serbia  was  to  receive  the  northern  portion 
of  these  two  countries,  with  the  port  of  Durazzo,  and 
Bulgaria  was  to  take  over  the  central  part  of  Macedonia. 

The  Turkish  hold  was  broken,  but  before  the  division 
of  territory  could  be  effected,  Austro-Hungary  inter- 
vened with  a  note  stating  she  would  not  consent  to  the 
partition  of  Albania.  This  was  very  disappointing  to  the 
conquerors,  especially  to  Serbia,  for  that  country  stood 
in  great  need  of  a  seaport  to  afford  shipping  outlet  for 
her  surplus  grain  and  hogs,  particularly  the  latter.  As 
the  other  Balkan  states  raised  enough  for  their  own 
requirements,  the  only  market  the  Serbians  could  supply 
was  the  Austro-Hungarian.  The  latter  was  therefore 
in  position  to  dictate  terms,  and  in  consequence  the  poor 
Serbian  farmers  received  very  small  returns.  It  was  to 
remedy  this  condition  and  better  themselves  that  they 
were  always  longing  for  an  ocean  port  through  which 
they  could  sell  their  products  in  the  world's  open  market, 
and  the]  felt  that  the  objection  to  the  division  of  Albania 
was  wholly  for  the  purpose  of  depriving  them  of  such  a 
port. 

The  action  of  Archduke  Ferdinand,  who  interposed 
the  objection  to  the  division  of  Albania,  embittered  the 


EARLY  HISTORY  OF  BALKAN  NATIONS         17 

Serbians,  and  some  of  the  students  vowed  vengeance. 
The  Serbian  government  then  proposed  that  the 
matter  of  division  of  territory  should  be  left  to  the 
decision  of  the  Czar  of  Russia,  but  just  as  the  Bul- 
garian Prime  Minister  was  about  to  take  passage  from 
Varna  to  Petrograd,  he  was  notified  by  his  government 
that  it  had  been  decided  not  to  wait  for  the  Czar's  deci- 
sion, but  to  proceed  at  once  to  take  over  the  territory 
which  had  been  assigned  to  them  under  the  agreement. 

Their  contention  was  that  there  had  been  no  opposi- 
tion to  their  award,  the  objection  having  been  only  to 
the  division  of  the  country  which  Greece  and  Serbia 
intended  to  share,  in  which  they  had  no  interest.  But 
the  Greeks  and  Serbians  were  in  possession  of  the  terri- 
tory, and  as  they  refused  to  give  it  up,  Bulgaria  started 
a  war  to  gain  possession.  She  was  opposed  by  Serbia, 
Greece,  Montenegro  and  Roumania,  and  was  easily 
defeated.  The  last  named  country  took  part  against 
Bulgaria,  because  of  her  disappointment  in  not  receiving 
anything  as  a  reward  for  her  neutrality  in  the  first 
Balkanic  war. 

Under  the  treaty  of  Bucharest,  following  this  war, 
Bulgaria  was  obliged  to  cede  Silistria  to  Roumania,  receiv- 
ing in  exchange  only  a  part  of  Thrace,  a  territory  on  the 
iEgean  Sea,  with  the  port  of  Dedagach.  Because  of  this, 
the  Bulgarians  cherished  animosity,  and  waited  an  oppor- 
tunity for  revenge.  Their  ruler  thought  this  opportunity 
was  at  hand  when  the  early  successes  of  the  Germans  and 
Austrians  tempted  him  to  cast  the  lot  of  Bulgaria  with 
theirs,  into  the  maelstrom  of  the  World  War. 


CHAPTER  II 

APPOINTED   MINISTER   TO  THE   BALKANS  —  ASSUMING 

CHARGE    OF    THE    LEGATION  — RECEPTIONS    AND 

CEREMONIES 

OCTOBER  16,  1913,  I  left  Chicago  for  my  post  as 
"  Envoy  Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary 
to  Roumania,  Serbia  and  Bulgaria,'*  with  headquarters 
at  Bucharest. 

Heartened  and  stimulated  by  the  good  wishes  and 
assurances  of  moral  support  of  the  thousands  of  friends 
who  had  feted  me  ere  my  departure,  I  nevertheless  had  a 
vague  feeling  of  disquietude,  perhaps  a  foreshadowing  of 
the  mighty  events  to  come.  Naturally,  I  was  keenly 
appreciative  of  the  high  honor  conferred  upon  me,  but 
far  above  this  was  the  realization  of  my  responsibility 
to  the  government  and  to  the  American  people,  and  of 
the  trust  reposed  in  me  by  the  President  and  my  many 
friends. 

On  shipboard  I  prepared  my  speeches  for  delivery 
when  presenting  my  credentials  to  the  respective  sover- 
eigns of  the  three  monarchies.  In  these  were  expressed 
not  only  the  customary  assurances  of  esteem  and  the 
desire  to  maintain  and  augment  the  existing  cordial 
relations,  but  also  the  intent  to  exert  every  possible 
effort  to  stimulate  and  extend  commercial  relations  which 
would  be  beneficial  to  each  country. 

Owing  to  illness  throughout  the  voyage  of  my  private 
secretary,  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  write  the  speeches 
in  longhand.  Perhaps  this  slower  method  afforded 
greater  latitude  for  deliberation,  but  I  was  far  less 
concerned  with  the  wording  of  the  speeches  than  I  was  in 

18 


Royal  Palaca  in  Sofia 


Thk  Black   Mosoii:   ix  Sofia 


APPOINTED  MINISTER  TO  THE  BALKANS       19 

determining  the  policy  and  course  to  be  pursued  in  repre- 
senting my  country  and  espousing  the  cause  of  justice 
at  all  times.  Of  course  it  was  impossible  to  forecast 
conditions  that  might  become  existent,  or  emergencies 
that  might  arise,  but  it  was  my  unalterable  decision 
that  in  no  circumstances  would  I  be  guilty  of  misrepre- 
sentation. This  policy  may  seem  at  variance  with 
popular  conception  of  diplomatic  tactics,  but  these 
memoirs  will  show  the  prudence  of  such  a  course. 

It  took  a  little  time  to  become  accustomed  to  the 
usual  title  of  "Excellency,"  which  from  the  first  was 
freely  used  on  shipboard,  but  after  the  receptions  given 
me  in  Bremen-Hafen,  Bremen  and  Berlin,  it  became 
evident  that  popular  belief  fully  sanctioned  its  usage. 

Extreme  cordiality  was  manifested  in  each  of  these 
three  cities,  but  my  reception  in  Prague  was  glorious, 
and  aroused  in  me  most  intense  emotion.  And  this 
feeling  was  shared  by  all  who  welcomed  me,  for  aside 
from  their  respect  for  my  official  position  and  the  welcome 
to  be  accorded  the  representative  of  a  country  known  to 
be  the  champion  of  liberty  and  justice,  was  the  realization 
that  one  of  their  own  blood  had  been  sent  to  them.  For, 
although  I  had  been  an  American  citizen  thirty-three 
years,  I  was  bom  in  Bohemia  and  these  people  knew  I 
could  understand  and  sympathize  with  them. 

A  touring  car  and  carriage  were  placed  at  my  disposal, 
public  buildings  were  bedecked  with  flags,  and  the  most 
prominent  societies  of  Bohemia  cabled  messages  of 
thanks  to  the  President  of  the  United  States.  These 
demonstrations  of  satisfaction  were  evidently  displeasing 
to  the  Austrian  government,  as  on  the  ninth  day  of  my 
stay  in  Prague,  I  received  a  cable  from  Washington 
requesting  me  to  make  no  more  speeches  there,  lest  the 


20  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

populace  become  over  enthusiastic  and  race  troubles 
incited.  I  therefore  made  my  excuses  and  proceeded  at 
once  to  Bucharest. 

From  the  days  of  my  youth,  I  had  always  been 
deeply  interested  in  the  history  of  the  Balkan  States, 
especially  during  the  period  of  over  four  hundred  years 
of  Turkish  misrule,  when  their  burdens  were  at  all  times 
heavy,  and  the  suffering  often  horrible.  Now  I  was  to 
see  and  understand  the  people  and  conditions. 

On  November  11,  1913,  I  arrived  in  Bucharest, 
finding  the  American  Legation  office  under  the  temporary 
direction  of  the  American  Charge  d'Affaires.  The  offices 
occupied  the  first  and  second  floors  of  a  substantial 
building,  which  had  been  rented  by  our  government 
during  the  preceding  eleven  years,  and  in  that  time 
had  been  tenanted  by  seven  of  our  ministers  to  Roumania. 

First,  the  conventional  formalities  had  to  be  followed. 
According  to  custom,  although  the  duly  accredited 
United  States  Minister,  I  could  not  confer  officially  with 
my  colleagues  until  I  had  been  received  and  acknowledged 
by  the  king.  The  first  step  was  to  call  on  the  dean  of  the 
diplomatic  service,  and  request  him  to  notify  the  Marshal 
of  the  Court  of  my  arrival,  and  ascertain  from  him  when 
the  official  reception  could  take  place.  The  king  being 
at  his  summer  home  in  Sinaia,  the  information  could 
not  be  given  immediately,  but  later  I  was  notified  to 
present  myself  on  the  27th  of  November. 

On  that  day,  two  gilded  carriages  arrived  at  the 
Legation,  and  Colonel  Baranga,  aide  of  the  king, 
entered  my  office  and  very  ceremoniously  invited  me 
to  accompany  him  to  the  royal  palace.  We  rode  in 
the  first  carriage,  and  the  secretary  and  military  attache 
in  the  second.    Arriving  at  the  palace,  the  carriages 


APPOINTED  MINISTER  TO  THE  BALKANS       21 

paraded  slowly  before  a  troop  of  cavalry  that  acted  as 
guard  of  honor,  the  royal  band  playing  a  Roumanian 
march,  which  abruptly  ceased  as  I  stepped  from  the 
carriage,  and  in  its  stead  I  heard  the  strains  of  "The  Star 
Spangled  Banner." 

Within  the  palace  I  was  first  presented  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  royal  household,  including  a  score  of  the 
highest  military  and  naval  officials,  all  in  dress  uniforms 
with  rich  gold  brocade.  Then  Titus  Maiorescu,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Council  of  Ministers  and  Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs,  whose  official  status  corresponds  with  that  of  the 
American  Secretary  of  State,  conducted  me  to  the  king's 
private  chambers,  where  King  Carol,  with  the  Crown 
Prince,  the  present  King  Ferdinand,  and  his  son.  Prince 
Carol,  awaited  me. 

The  king  received  me  very  cordially,  and  after  my 
speech  of  about  ten  minutes*  duration,  he  responded  in 
about  the  same  length  of  time,  and  expressed  very  deep 
friendship  for  America.  He  then  led  me  into  his  private 
office,  where  we  discussed  American  and  Roumanian 
affairs  for  more  than  half  an  hour,  after  which  he  per- 
sonally conducted  me  to  the  door. 

In  the  antechamber  I  joined  the  secretary  and  mili- 
tary attache,  and  we  were  then  conducted  to  the  presence 
of  Queen  Elisabeth,  also  knowTi  to  the  world  as  "Carmen 
Sylva."  With  her  were  the  wife  of  the  Crown  Prince, 
the  present  Queen  Marie,  the  Princess  Elisabeth,  Princess 
Mary,  the  little  Princess  lUiana  and  Prince  Nicholai.  The 
queen  was  very  gracious  and  charming  and  she  paid  me 
a  compliment  by  expressing  pleasure  that  my  country 
had  selected  not  only  a  good  diplomat,  but  also  a  good 
business  man.  Among  other  things  we  talked  of  music, 
for  which  the  queen  expressed  great  love,  and  she  prom- 


22        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

ised  me  an  invitation  to  all  of  her  special  musical  soirees. 

After  half  an  hour  of  conversation,  I  was  permitted 
to  present  my  secretary  and  military  attache,  who  had 
not  been  accorded  presentation  to  the  king.  The  audi- 
ence being  then  terminated,  we  reentered  the  carriages, 
while  the  band  played  the  Roumanian  national  hymn, 
and  were  driven  to  the  Legation.  I  was  now  full- 
fledged  Minister  to  Roumania,  competent  to  meet  all 
other  officials. 

I  remained  in  Roumania  until  the  first  of  the  following 
yeai,  going  thence  through  Hungary  to  Serbia.  In  Bel- 
grade I  was  presented  to  King  Peter  by  Prime  Minister 
Pachich.  The  reception  was  similar  to  that  in  Roumania, 
though  the  conversation  with  King  Peter  was  in  the 
Serbian  and  German  languages.  The  audience  lasted 
over  an  hour,  but  at  its  conclusion  it  seemed  to  me  to  take 
even  longer  to  remove  myself  from  the  presence  of 
the  king,  as  the  distance  to  the  exit  from  the  great  recep- 
tion room  was  over  two  hundred  feet,  and  court  etiquette 
required  that  I  cover  the  entire  distance  going  backward 
and  bowing.  A  great  crowd  witnessed  the  ceremony, 
there  appearing  here  also  much  joy  among  the  Serbians, 
being  Slavs,  that  the  United  States  had  selected  a  bom 
Slav  as  her  representative. 

In  Sofia  I  was  received  by  Czar  Ferdinand  of  Bul- 
garia, being  presented  by  Prime  Minister  Genadieff. 
The  same  formalities  were  observed  as  in  the  preceding 
receptions,  with  a  still  larger  crowd  in  attendance.  On 
the  following  day,  the  newspaper  "Mir"  printed  an 
interview  with  me  in  which  I  expressed  a  favorable 
impression  of  the  czar,  stating  truthfully  my  belief  that 
he  was  a  good  monarch  as  he  had  labored  twenty-seven 
years  for  the  education  of  the  Bulgarians.    This  evidently 


Junction  of  the  Sava  and  Danube  Rivers  in  Belgrade 


Fortress  in  Belgrade.  View  from  the  Outside 


APPOINTED  MINISTER  TO  THE  BALKANS       23 

pleased  the  czar,  as  thereafter  he  was  very  friendly,  and 
always  gave  me  prompt  audience  whenever  I  came  to 
Sofia,  an  honor  not  granted  to  all  my  colleagues,  some  of 
whom,  I  understood,  being  unable  to  see  him  even  once 
a  year. 


CHAPTER  III 

SOME   INTIMATE  GLIMPSES  OF  ROYALTY  — THE  FIRST 
WAR  CLOUD 

IN  Roumania,  on  the  first  of  January,  their  time,  or 
January  14  according  to  our  calendar,  the  great 
mass  was  read,  which  was  attended  by  all  the  royal 
family,  the  local  high  officials  and  the  foreign  represen- 
tatives. The  head  of  the  Roumanian  church  read  the 
mass,  and  prayed  that  God  preserve  the  king  and  his 
family,  and  keep  the  existing  government  in  power. 
Mr.  Take  Jonescu,  Minister  of  Interior,  standing  next 
to  me,  whispered  in  my  ear,  "This  sermon  will  not  do 
us  much  good  because  tomorrow  we  will  be  deposed  and 
a  new  government  will  come  in."    And  so  it  happened. 

Shortly  after  my  return  to  Bucharest,  a  commission 
arrived,  which  had  been  sent  to  extend  invitations  to 
European  countries  to  participate  in  the  San  Francisco 
Exposition  of  1915.  The  members  informed  me  that 
thus  far  they  had  been  unable  to  obtain  audience  with 
the  monarchs  of  any  countries,  or  the  presidents  of 
republics,  and  I  promised  them  different  treatment  in 
the  Balkans.  First  Queen  Elisabeth  received  them, 
inviting  also  the  wives  of  the  .three  members  of  the 
commission.  The  queen,  as  usual,  was  seated  in  her 
large  armchair,  crocheting.  She  greeted  them  in  a 
very  kindly  manner,  inviting  them  to  be  seated,  and 
immediately  began  asking  questions  about  American 
conditions  and  customs,  seeming  to  be  very  much 
interested  in  the  answers. 

Then  she  said  she  would  give  each  one  of  the  party 
one  of  the  books  she  had  written  under  the  nom  de  plume 

2A 


SOME  INTIMATE  GLIMPSES  OF  ROYALTY       25 

of  "Carmen  Sylva."  When  the  books  were  brought, 
she  discovered  the  number  was  insufficient  and  she 
requested  one  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  commission  to 
ask  Mary,  one  of  the  ladies  in  waiting,  to  bring  another. 
Instead  of  making  this  request  of  the  lady  in  waiting  in 
customary  court  phraseology,  he  parted  the  curtain 
dividing  the  rooms,  and  imitating  the  voice  of  the 
queen,  he  called,  "Mary!"  The  queen  did  not  seem 
shocked  or  offended,  but  laughed  heartily.  Naturally 
the  visitors  were  delighted  by  the  royal  reception. 

Next  I  presented  the  commissioners  to  King  Carol. 
As  he  did  not  speak  English  and  they  did  not  speak 
German,  I  had  to  act  as  translator.  The  king  informed 
us  he  could  not  furnish  a  special  exhibit  for  the  Exposi- 
tion, but  would  send  some  things  of  interest  and  also 
send  a  representative.  Then  we  went  to  Belgrade,  but 
could  not  see  King  Peter  because  of  his  serious  illness, 
although  his  ministers  promised  that  Serbia  would 
participate. 

In  Sofia,  when  we  arrived  at  the  royal  palace  by 
appointment,  we  found  the  whole  royal  family  awaiting 
us,  and  each  of  them  shook  hands  with  us  in  real  American 
fashion.  The  king  and  his  ministers  at  once  agreed  to 
furnish  a  Bulgarian  exhibit,  and  their  Sobranje  was 
asked  to  appropriate  300,000  to  600,000  leva  to  defray 
expenses.  Then  followed  the  usual  questions  about 
American  affairs,  and  particularly  about  the  Panama 
Canal.  Commissioner  Calvin  B.  Brown  gave  a  com- 
prehensive account  of  the  canal,  to  which  close  attention 
was  paid. 

The  king  spoke  with  pride  of  a  complete  railroad 
train,  a  present  from  ex-president  Cleveland,  which  was 
then  in  operation  between  the  station  and  the  summer 


26  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKj\NS 

palace  at  Vrana,  saying  that  he  and  his  sons  frequently 
ran  it.  Over  three  hours  were  spent  with  the  royal 
family  that  evening,  and  by  invitation  the  commission 
lunched  with  the  king  the  next  day,  he  obligingly  having 
the  Oriental  Express  held  one  hour  until  the  luncheon 
was  finished.  Each  member  of  the  commission  was 
given  an  autographed  photograph  of  the  king. 

April  2,  1914,  I  was  informed  that  the  Queen  of 
Bulgaria  wished  to  visit  America,  and  as  it  was  imme- 
diately after  the  second  Balkan  war,  our  State  Depart- 
ment deemed  it  advisable  for  me  to  ascertain  her  plans 
and  consult  with  her.  I  remained  in  Sofia  a  month, 
during  which  time  she  made  and  remade  plans.  First, 
she  intended  to  go  as  her  royal  self,  then  she  decided  to 
go  incognito.  Her  passage  had  been  engaged  for  May  21, 
and  she  had  bought  many  valuable  presents  for  the 
president,  cabinet  officers,  prominent  citizens  and  Bul- 
garian sympathizers.  Her  escort,  consisting  of  a  secre- 
tary, tutor  and  fourteen  attendants,  had  also  been 
engaged. 

I  informed  her  that  all  America  would  doubtless  be 
glad  to  see  her.  She  intended  to  appear  in  public 
gatherings,  and  to  shake  hands  with  everyone  who 
wished  to  greet  her,  but  I  explained  that  this  would  be 
highly  imprudent,  as  there  were  many  enemies  of  Bul- 
garia in  America,  and  some  would  be  likely  to  offend 
her  and  possibly  inflict  bodily  injury.  Our  State  Depart- 
ment was  somewhat  fearful  of  unpleasant  happenings 
during  her  visit.  Also  at  that  time  there  was  some 
uneasiness  in  America  over  the  Mexican  situation. 

After  I  had  made  these  explanations,  the  queen 
asked  if  it  would  be  better  to  defer  her  visit.  I  could 
not  well  advise  her  officially,  but  gave  it  as  my  indi- 


Czarina  Eleonora  of  Bulgaria 


SOME  INTIMATE  GLIMPSES  OF  ROYALTY      27 

vidual  opinion  that  such  would  be  the  wiser  course. 
She  then  decided  to  postpone  the  visit  for  six  months, 
which  was  fortunate,  as  owing  to  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  she  would  have  been  obliged  to  remain  in  America 
for  a  considerable  period. 

I  was  present  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Sobranje 
after  the  second  Balkanic  war  was  lost  by  the  Bulgarians. 
Out  of  two  hundred  members  of  the  Sobranje,  thirty-seven 
were  socialists,  and  when  the  royal  family  appeared  in 
the  Parliament  and  the  king  began  his  address,  these 
socialists  and  others  hooted,  called  on  him  to  stop,  and 
reviled  him  with  gross  epithets.  The  king  eventually 
finished  the  address,  but  the  disturbance  was  so  great 
that  no  one  understood  what  he  said. 

I  had  audience  with  the  queen  that  evening,  who 
was  very  downhearted,  but  I  succeeded  in  consoling  her 
considerably  by  telling  her  that  in  America  even  the 
highest  type  of  men,  when  candidates  for  election  to 
public  offices,  are  bitterly  assailed  and  reviled  in  cam- 
paigns, both  in  speeches  and  in  print,  and  I  cited  the 
case  of  one  of  our  presidential  candidates,  who  suffered 
most  grievous  attacks  before  election,  but  who,  after 
taking  office,  was  held  in  highest  esteem.  I  said  she 
could  in  no  way  be  considered  responsible  for  the  war 
loss,  and  assured  her  of  the  love  of  her  people  because 
of  her  many  good  deeds.  She  seemed  comforted,  and 
ordered  tea  and  cigarettes  for  us  both.  It  was  my  first 
cigarette,  but  I  could  not  well  decline  the  honor  and 
allow  the  queen  to  smoke  alone. 

Several  days  after  my  official  presentation  to  the 
King  of  Bulgaria,  the  queen  invited  me  to  visit  with 
her  the  hospitals  and  barracks  where  wounded  soldiers 
and  the  poor  were  housed.    At  that  time  Bulgaria  had 


28        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

140,000  refugees.  In  Sofia,  8,700  were  living  on  bread 
alone.  All  these  were  entirely  dependent  on  charity. 
I  saw  one  small  room  occupied  by  forty  persons,  includ- 
ing two  women  who  had  given  birth  to  children  there. 
The  queen  was  then  organizing  a  new  society  to  aid  the 
unfortunates  and  she  asked  me  to  accept  the  presidency 
of  it.  I  suggested  that  she  be  president  and  let  me 
be  vice-president,  and  we  would  appeal  to  America  for 
help.    This  appeal  brought  over  $75,000. 

Returning  to  Bucharest,  on  June  28  I  attended  the 
races,  which  are  held  every  Sunday  during  the  summer. 
All  members  of  the  royal  family  were  there,  and  that 
afternoon  the  king  received  a  telegram  announcing  the 
murder  of  Archduke  Ferdinand  at  Serajevo,  Bosnia. 
The  news  was  received  with  deep  concern,  and  the  king 
and  all  the  diplomats  immediately  left  the  races.  King 
Carol  declared  that  the  assassination  would  lead  to  a 
world  war. 

On  July  12,  1914,  I  went  to  Belgrade  to  attend  the 
Royal  Ball,  in  honor  of  King  Peter's  namesday,  but  on 
arrival  found  the  city  draped  in  black  instead  of  the 
national  flags,  because  of  the  death  the  previous  day  of 
the  Russian  Minister  Hartwig.  The  assistant  secretary 
of  the  Serbian  Foreign  Office  informed  me  that  he  had 
died  suddenly  while  visiting  the  Austrian  Minister,  and 
that  owing  to  his  well  known  sympathies  and  regard 
for  the  Serbians,  he  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  them. 
He  said  that  ugly  rumors  were  then  afloat  that  Hartwig 
met  death  at  the  hands  of  the  Austrian  Minister,  but 
after  examination  and  depositions,  it  was  pronounced 
the  result  of  an  apoplectic  stroke. 

The  next  day  the  national  flags  replaced  the  black 
ones.    The  namesday  celebration  was  conducted  in  a 


SOME   INTIMATE  GLIMPSES  OF  ROYALTY       29 

subdued  manner,  excepting  the  horse  racing  in  the  after- 
noon, and  the  dances  later  in  the  public  park.  That 
morning,  Crown  Prince  Alexander  gave  a  reception  for 
the  diplomats  and  military  attaches,  at  which  the 
Austrian  Minister  was  the  only  disgruntled  person. 
He  spoke  disparagingly  to  me  of  the  Crown  Prince,  and 
stated  he  was  uneducated  because  he  could  not  speak 
English  or  German.  Next  day  the  preliminary  funeral 
service  was  held  and  on  the  following  day  the  rites, 
with  the  city  again  draped  in  black,  were  completed. 
It  was  the  largest  funeral  ever  held  in  Serbia. 

In  the  church,  when  Prime  Minister  Pachich  began 
to  speak,  the  Austrian  Minister,  standing  at  my  side, 
greatly  annoyed  me  and  the  rest  of  the  assemblage  by 
loudly  talking  to  me,  declaring  that  the  speech  was 
political  agitation  against  Austria,  and  likewise  assailing 
the  French  Minister.  I  was  obliged  to  ask  him  to  go 
to  his  seat  so  I  could  hear  the  speech.  Next  day,  the 
Austrian  Minister  telegraphed  Vienna  that  his  life  was 
in  danger  in  Belgrade  and  he  feared  his  house  would  be 
bombed,  and  that  he  had  been  obliged  to  send  his  son 
to  Semlin,  to  save  his  life.  It  was  general  belief  in  Bel- 
grade that  the  object  of  this  was  solely  to  arouse  the 
enmity  of  the  Austro-Hungarian  people. 

Before  I  left  for  Bucharest  I  had  audience  with  the 
Serbian  prime  minister,  immediately  following  a  long 
conference  he  had  had  with  the  German  and  Austrian 
ministers.  He  told  me  he  had  just  been  informed  that 
the  Serbian  students  were  to  be  expelled  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Serajevo,  and  notwithstanding  his  earnest 
protest  to  the  Austrian  Minister,  he  believed  the  threat 
would  be  carried  out.  He  asked  my  advice,  which  I 
could  not  give  officially,  but  as  an  individual  I  expressed 


30        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

the  opinion  that  his  wisest  course  would  be  to  do  every- 
thing possible  to  avert  war  between  Austria  and  his 
country,  stating  that  their  hospitals  were  then  full  of 
wounded  men  from  the  recent  war,  and  that  they  were 
in  no  position  to  engage  in  fresh  hostilities.  He  agreed 
with  me,  stating  he  would  do  everything  he  honorably 
could  to  avoid  war. 

I  took  the  last  steamer  that  left  Belgrade  before 
the  World  War  began.  Three  days  after  my  arrival  in 
Bucharest,  I  received  telegraphic  advice  that  Austro- 
Hungary  had  sent  an  ultimatum  to  Serbia,  threatening 
war  unless  all  her  demands  were  satisfied.  As  Serbia 
could  not  in  honor  comply  with  the  demands,  a  procla- 
mation of  war  was  issued  by  Austro-Hungary.  Being 
imable  to  defend  Belgrade,  the  Serbians  moved  their 
capital  to  Nish,  at  the  same  time  issuing  mobilization 
orders  which  called  out  the  last  reserves.  Similar  orders 
were  simultaneously  issued  in  Montenegro,  the  interests 
there  being  identical  with  those  of  Serbia. 

During  my  last  visit  to  Belgrade,  I  conversed  freely 
with  nearly  all  the  representatives  of  foreign  countries. 
Baron  Giesl  von  Gieslingen,  the  Austrian  Minister,  and 
Baron  von  Griesinger,  the  German  Minister,  especially 
talked  to  me  about  the  Serajevo  crime,  and  the  Austrian 
Minister  stated  that  Serbia  must  give  full  satisfaction 
to  Austria  for  the  murder  of  Archduke  Ferdinand. 

I  am  sure  that  none  of  the  diplomats  in  Belgrade 
expected  that  within  a  week  after  the  funeral  of  Mr. 
Hartwig,  the  late  Russian  Minister  at  Belgrade,  war 
would  be  declared  by  Austria  against  Serbia.  The 
Serbian  people  themselves  were  not  without  expectation 
of  war  as  the  Austrian  newspapers  had  threatened  them 
continually.    Taking  everything  into  consideration  and 


On  thk  Way  to  Samkov,  Bulgaria 


SOME  INTIMATE  GLIMPSES  OF  ROYALTY       31 

without  prejudice,  it  seems  that  Austria  wanted  war 
with  Serbia,  and  that  the  death  of  Archduke  Ferdinand 
was  welcomed  as  a  casus  belli. 

The  Austrians  have  for  years  dominated  the  Serbian 
markets,  but  lost  nearly  all  this  trade  in  1912,  upon  the 
inception  of  the  war  between  Turkey  and  the  Balkan 
allies.  The  Serbians  charge  that  Austria,  by  the  creation 
of  the  independent  state  of  Albania,  is  responsible  for 
the  disruption  of  the  Balkan  Alliance.  Of  course,  this 
action  was  taken  by  Austria  to  deprive  Serbia  of  access 
to  the  Adriatic  Sea.  The  late  archduke  was  the  advocate 
of  this  anti-Serbian  policy,  and  therefore  it  was  no  wonder 
that  the  Serbians  did  not  like  him,  as  he  had  prevented 
the  realization  of  the  nation's  dream  to  own  a  large  port 
on  the  Adriatic.  Austro-Hungary  was  very  jealous  of 
greater  Serbia,  as  it  had  progressed  and  extended  against 
her  will. 

The  agreement  between  Austria  and  Bulgaria,  which 
it  is  claimed  was  made  after  Bulgaria's  defeat  by  Greece 
and  Serbia,  did  not  halt  Serbia,  and  the  friendship  be- 
tween this  nation  and  Greece  was  very  much  disliked  by 
Austria,  but  the  greatest  dissatisfaction  came  when  it 
was  announced  that  Greece  had  made  an  agreement  with 
Serbia  regarding  the  port  of  Salonika,  which  was  also  to 
be  a  Serbian  port  on  the  i^gean  Sea,  and  thus  give 
Serbia  an  outlet  to  the  sea,  which  Austria  had  always 
tried  to  prevent.  There  was  no  more  chance  to  stop 
this,  and  therefore  Austria  felt  very  unfriendly  not  only 
to  Serbia  but  to  Greece  also. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Austrians  charge  that  Russia 
was  trying  to  get  a  hold  on  the  whole  of  the  Balkan  pen- 
insula, including  the  city  of  Constantinople,  and  that 
Serbia  was  her  tool   to  accomplish  this  purpose.     It 

3 


32  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

seems,  therefore,  that  the  Balkan  peninsula,  which  was 
like  a  volcano  ready  to  erupt  at  any  time,  played  a  large 
role  in  the  world's  affairs,  because,  taking  into  consid- 
eration the  quick  action  of  Germany  in  joining  Austria 
in  the  war,  every  intelligent  man  must  realize  that  this 
new  European  war  was  brought  about  solely  in  the 
determined  effort  to  attain  the  supremacy  of  the  world's 
commerce,  and  thus,  in  time,  absolute  world  domination. 

The  opinion  of  Lieutenant  Miles,  our  military  attache, 
was  that,  "Austria  was  anxious  to  get  a  strip  of  land  to 
the  east  of  Herzegovina,  which  in  1912,  at  the  close  of  the 
Turkish  war,  was  divided  by  Serbia  and  Montenegro, 
thus  joining  the  two  nations  of  the  same  race.  It  is 
probable  that  it  is  this  territory  which  Austria  wants, 
both  in  order  to  sever  Serbia  from  Montenegro  and 
to  open  the  Austrian  road  to  Salonika.  Austria  also 
undoubtedly  hopes  that  this  war  will  strengthen  her  hold 
on  the  Slavonic  people  of  her  Empire."  I  personally 
believed  she  wanted  a  great  deal  more  in  addition. 

The  Bulgarian  Minister  told  me  that  his  government 
was  sounding  Serbia  as  to  whether  she  would  give  up 
part  of  Macedonia  to  Bulgaria,  and  in  that  way  help 
the  Triple  Entente  to  get  Bulgaria  in  line  and  relieve 
Serbia,  but  that  his  government  had  met  with  fiat  refusal. 
Serbia  was  not  willing  to  lose  any  part  of  her  territory, 
especially  part  of  Macedonia,  which  is  considered  one  of 
the  richest  sections  of  the  Balkan  peninsula. 

At  that  time  Serbia  had  between  80,000  and  90,000 
men  under  the  colors,  and  it  was  believed  her  total  fight- 
ing strength  could  not  exceed  220,000  men,  while  that  of 
Austro-Hungary  was  estimated  at  5,000,000.  The  Serbian 
officers  generally  realized  the  enormous  task  before  the 
Serbian  army,  but  felt  that  the  war  was  forced  on  them 


SOME   INTIMATE  GLIMPSES  OF  ROYALTY       33 

and  that  it  would  be  a  finish  fight.  They  believed  that 
the  patriotic  spirit  would  be  aroused  to  even  greater 
pitch  than  in  the  Turkish  war  of  1912,  and  they  relied 
on  the  intense  devotion  of  the  Serbians,  and  some  advan- 
tage to  be  gained  by  their  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
theatre  of  war.  There  was  also  an  element  of  chance 
in  the  probable  duration  of  hostilities,  which  might 
operate  to  wear  out  their  enemies. 

General  Putnik,  the  Serbian  chief  of  staff  during  the 
wars  of  1912  and  1913,  was  absent  when  the  crisis  occurred 
and  was  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war  in  Budapest.  His 
absence  deprived  the  Serbians  of  his  intimate  knowledge 
of  detail,  but  on  the  other  hand  he  was  an  old  man,  and 
necessarily  lacking  in  the  vigor  which  was  essential  at 
that  time.  Therefore  his  replacement  by  General  Pavlo- 
vitch  may  have  been  advantageous  for  the  Serbian  cause. 

Colonel  Thompson  of  the  British  army  was  attached 
to  the  Serbian  army  in  the  wars  of  1912  and  1913,  and 
gained  intimate  knowledge  of  the  service.  Of  this  he 
says: 

"The  raw  material  of  the  Serbian  army  is  excellent, 
but  good  generals  are  lacking.  Putnik  is  elderly  and 
prudent.  Yankovitch  and  Stephanovitch  are  too  old 
for  active  work.  Boyavitch,  though  in  the  prime  of  life, 
does  not  exert  himself  as  he  might.  Only  once  in  the 
sixteen  days  did  he  visit  the  troops  under  his  command. 
The  nearest  unit  was  three  hours  distance  by  motor,  and 
six  hours  by  horse.  The  division  commanders,  Sturm, 
Tershitch  and  Marinovitch,  are  highly  thought  of,  and 
deservedly  so,  but  they  are  too  junior  in  rank.  Colonel 
Pavlovitch  is  by  universal  consent  the  man  to  whom 
most  of  the  credit  for  the  victory  of  the  Bregalnica  is  due. 
The  Serbian  infantry  soldier  is  very  careful  with  his  aim. 


34        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

The  maximum  number  of  rounds  fired  by  any  one  man 
in  24  hours  was  only  80.  During  the  Turkish  campaign 
only  12,000,000  rounds  were  fired  altogether  by  an  army 
of  180,000  infantry  soldiers. 

"It  is  difficult  to  overpraise  the  Serbian  infantry. 
They  are  brave,  enduring,  obedient,  good-tempered, 
and  can  live  on  next  to  nothing  under  conditions  which 
would  appal  the  average  Britisher.  Attacks  are  some- 
times made  without  officers,  but  though  illiterate,  the 
private  soldier  has  a  fund  of  common  sense  which  enables 
him  to  do  the  right  thing  when  acting  independently. 
It  may  be  said  without  exaggeration  that  there  is  no 
position  which  the  better  divisions  of  the  Serbian  army 
will  not  assault,  provided  they  have  good  artillery 
support,  but  this  is  essential  since  the  infantry  have  an 
almost  superstitious  reverence  for  artillery  fire. 

**The  greatest  deficiency  in  the  Serbian  army  at 
present  is  in  Vv^ar  material.  Two  weeks  ago,  the  Austrian 
military  attache  at  Belgrade  estimated  that  there  were 
only  150,000  rifles  in  good  condition  in  the  country. 
The  Serbians  have  received  absolutely  no  war  material 
since  the  war  of  last  July,  but  they  have  the  port  of 
Salonika,  in  the  hands  of  their  friends  the  Greeks,  behind 
them.  An  overwhelming  success  of  Austro-Hungary 
would  threaten  the  Greeks  in  Salonika,  and  for  this 
reason  the  Serbians  can  probably  count  on  getting 
supplies  through  Greek  territory." 

Toward  the  conclusion  of  the  1913  war,  Serbia  was 
calling  to  arms  all  men  from  twenty  to  fifty-five  years 
of  age,  which  brought  from  50,000  to  80,000  additional 
men.  These  were  each  given  a  franc,  a  cap  and  a  rifle, 
and  told  to  go  to  it.  They  looked  like  bands  of  tramps, 
coming  to  the  front,  but  they  made  excellent  soldiers. 


Queen  Elisabeth 
"Carmen  Sylva"  of  Roumania 


CHAPTER   IV 

EARLY  SERBIAN  TRIUMPHS  ON  BATTLEFIELDS  — 
RAVAGES  OF  SICKNESS 

AT  the  beginning  of  the  World  War,  Bucharest 
became  the  most  important  point  in  the  Balkan 
peninsula,  because  Roumania  was  neutral  and  sur- 
rounded by  belligerent  countries.  As  our  government 
had  consented  to  take  care  of  German  and  Austro- 
Hungarian  interests  in  Serbia,  I  was  instructed  to  take 
charge.  All  letters,  telegrams  and  money  had  to  be  trans- 
mitted from  the  countries  at  war  through  Roumania. 
Consequently  all  belligerent  countries  had  representatives 
there.  From  the  outset,  none  of  the  countries  were 
prepared  to  take  care  of  the  great  number  of  prisoners 
taken.  I  was  receiving  telegrams  from  the  Serbian 
government  that  the  Austrians  were  making  prisoners 
not  only  of  soldiers,  but  also  of  every  civilian  Serbian 
they  could  take,  women  and  children  included.  On  the 
other  hand,  Coimt  Czemin,  the  Austro-Hungarian  Min- 
ister, complained  to  me  that  the  Serbians  were  pursuing 
the  same  course  with  their  people.  Reports  were  fur- 
nished me  of  the  result  of  battles,  by  the  American 
military  attache,  Colonel  Sherman  Miles,  who  was  with 
the  Serbian  army,  and  also  from  Austro-Hungarian 
sources.  These  reports  conflicted  very  much  with  the 
ones  published  in  the  newspapers. 

For  instance,  in  the  first  battle  in  Schabatz,  the 
Austro-Hungarians  announced  that  they  took  ten  thou- 
sand prisoners,  and  the  Serbians  claimed  four  thousand, 
but  the  fact  was  that  the  Austrians  retreated  without 
any  prisoners,  leaving  many  guns  and  much  ammunition 

behind  them. 

35 


36        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

At  the  end  of  November,  1914,  the  situation  in  Serbia 
was  very  gloomy.  For  nearly  four  months  the  Serbian 
army  was  successful  in  fighting  the  Austro-Hungarian 
forces,  but  about  mid-November  it  was  short  of  ammuni- 
tion, and  some  of  it  sent  by  the  other  Powers  was  not 
fit  for  their  rifles,  and  I  was  told  that  this  was  one  of  the 
reasons  for  vacating  Valjevo.  The  second  reason,  in 
my  opinion,  was  a  superior  force  of  three  army  corps  of 
Austrians  and  German  soldiers  which  had  just  recently 
been  sent  on  the  Serbian  front. 

About  the  last  of  the  month  the  Russians  succeeded 
in  forwarding  over  the  Danube  River  to  Serbia,  enough 
ammunition  for  some  time  to  come. 

The  American  Consulate  in  Belgrade  reported  the 
transfer  of  Austrian  prisoners  from  Belgrade  to  other 
points  in  Serbia,  which  action  would  indicate  that  there 
might  be  danger  of  Serbia  losing  Belgrade. 

The  main  difficulty  for  the  Serbians  was  that  they 
could  not  use  their  whole  army  against  the  Austrians, 
as  it  was  necessary  for  them  to  keep  at  least  50,000 
soldiers  on  the  Bulgarian  frontier  to  protect  the  parts  of 
Macedonia  now  called  New  Serbia. 

Bucharest  became  a  clearing  house  for  the  belligerent 
countries.  The  number  of  prisoners  of  war  greatly 
increased  the  volume  of  correspondence,  and  as  the 
Red  Cross  society  was  not  yet  in  the  field,  all  this  work 
and  the  necessary  relief  measures  had  to  be  performed 
by  our  Legation.  It  was  necessary  for  me  to  read  all 
the  correspondence  to  prevent  any  information  being 
transmitted  by  spies.  Always  after  a  big  battle,  many 
telegrams  in  many  languages  were  received  by  me,  and 
these  required  investigations  and  answers.  One  message 
I   received   read    as   follows:    ''Please    let    me    know 


SERBIAN  TRIUMPHS  ON   BATTLEFIELDS         37 

whether  my  son  Charles  is  alive  or  dead.  I  have  already 
lost  four  sons  in  the  war.  My  wife  became  crazy  in 
consequence  of  it  and  I  shall  take  my  life  if  my  last 
son  is  dead." 

I  ascertained  that  his  last  son  had  died  of  wounds 
received  in  battle,  but  I  did  not  have  the  heart  to  send 
any  answer  to  the  poor  old  man. 

There  were  many  cases  of  separation  of  families  and 
particularly  loss  of  children.     The  latter  caused  deepest 
distress.     Every  effort  was  made  to  reunite  the  separated 
although  each  case  involved  much  labor  and  thought. 
In  one  instance,  the  wife  of  the  chief  of  the  Austro-Hun- 
garian  railways  was  in  Paris  when  war  was  proclaimed, 
and  she  was  interned  there  for  several  months.    When 
she  was  released  she  came  to  Roumania.    When  she 
left  home,  her  children  were  with  the  governess  at  her 
home  in  Galicia,  but  after  the  arrival  of  the  Russians, 
all  trace  of  the  children  was  lost.    After  much  investi- 
gation I  learned  that  the  governess  had  a  sister  in  Kiev. 
I  then  evoked  the  aid  of  our  consul  in  Odessa,  request- 
ing him  to  send  a  special  messenger  to  Kiev.     This  was 
done,  and  the  children  were  found  there,  living  in  great 
misery.     I  then  obtained  permission  from  the  Russian 
authorities  to  have  the  children  brought  to  Roumania, 
and  it  was  my  pleasure  to  restore  them  to  their  mother. 

Naturally,  in  such  exciting  times,  addresses  would  be 
inaccurate  or  incomplete,  and  in  many  cases  the  official 
records  were  in  such  poor  condition  as  to  afford  very 
little  assistance.  Frequently  money  would  be  sent  to 
me  for  certain  prisoners  without  any  advice  as  to  where 
they  were  or  even  to  what  regiment  they  belonged. 

All  this  required  much  patient  effort,  but  in  the  end 
practically  all  tangles  were  straightened  out.    The  money 


38        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

destined  to  Serbian  points  had  to  be  sent  by  messengers 
to  Nish,  the  new  capital  of  Serbia,  where  the  distribu- 
tion had  to  be  made  by  the  American  consulate  to  the 
different  military  posts.  Similar  procedure  was  required 
for  remittances  to  Himgary,  where  our  consul-general 
represented  the  Serbian  interests. 

Another  matter  which  required  considerable  time 
and  attention  was  the  plight  of  many  people  arriving 
from  Russia.  In  every  case  these  were  halted  on  the 
border,  and  both  men  and  women  were  disrobed,  and 
any  money  or  valuables  found  were  taken  from  them  by 
the  Russian  frontier  authorities.  A  maximum  of  five 
hundred  rubles  was  allowed  to  be  retained.  This  small 
sum  was  wholly  inadequate  even  for  immediate  needs. 
Neai-ly  all  these  victims  made  protests  to  me  when  they 
arrived  in  Bucharest,  but  all  I  could  do  was  to  report 
to  my  government. 

One  of  my  first  efforts  after  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
was  to  arrange  for  the  exchange  between  the  belligerents 
of  the  women,  children  and  old  men.  This  was  finally 
agreed  upon  to  include  all  the  women  and  young  girls, 
the  men  over  fifty-seven  years  of  age  and  the  boys  of 
sixteen  and  under.  The  Serbian  government  consented 
at  once  to  this  agreement,  and  the  Germans  accepted 
the  terms  and  made  the  exchange  within  two  months, 
but  it  required  over  five  months  to  complete  exchanges 
with  Austria-Hungary. 

In  1914,  good  fortune  in  the  war  seemed  to  attend 
the  Serbians,  but  that  was  due  largely  to  the  devotion 
of  the  Serbian  soldiers,  who  gave  no  thought  to  them- 
selves individually  but  considered  only  the  cause  of  their 
country.  Their  endurance  of  privation  was  marvelous. 
At  night,  hundreds  of  them  could  be  seen  sleeping  around 


Main  Street  in  Belgrade 


Street  Scene  in  Belgrade 


SERBIAN   TRIUMPHS  ON   BATTLEFIELDS         39 

the  depot  or  on  the  hard  stone  pavements  of  the  street, 
and  yet  in  the  morning  their  activity  and  fresh  appearance 
would  indicate  perfect  repose.  Give  the  Serbian  soldier 
bread  and  an  onion,  and  he  is  satisfied.  For  days  at  a 
time,  he  requires  no  better  food. 

On  December  20,  I  received  a  fresh  complaint  of 
ill  treatment  of  Austro-Hungarian  prisoners  in  Serbia. 
Therefore  I  went  thither  to  investigate  this  matter  as 
well  as  to  attend  to  the  distribution  of  gifts  from  the 
American  children  to  the  Serbian  children,  which  arrived 
at  Salonika  on  the  "Chicago  Herald's"  Christmas  ship. 

My  wife  and  daughters  accompanied  me  on  the  trip 
to  Nish.  At  night  no  heat  or  light  was  provided  in  the 
cars,  to  avoid  revealing  the  train  to  the  enemy,  but 
nevertheless  the  sparks  from  the  wood  used  in  the 
engines  furnished  a  very  distinct  target,  which  frequently 
drew  a  hail  of  Austro-Hungarian  bullets.  We  escaped 
uninjured  and  arrived  in  Nish  on  the  following  day. 

During  this  day,  more  than  20,000  Austro-Hungarian 
prisoners  arrived  there,  among  whom  were  about  ten 
thousand  Slavs.  The  city  was  full  of  refugees  who 
came  from  all  parts  of  Serbia,  and  there  was  no  place 
for  the  prisoners  except  in  the  gardens  and  in  the  parks. 
Some  of  the  prisoners  of  war  were  allowed  to  walk  the 
streets  unguarded.  I  fully  understood  that  the  city 
had  not  adequate  facilities  to  provide  for  so  many 
prisoners,  but  nevertheless  I  required  the  Prime  Minister 
to  give  them  shelter.  He  at  once  agreed  to  empty  all 
the  warehouses  and  turn  them  into  quarters  for  the  war 
prisoners. 

Some  of  the  new  prisoners  informed  me  that  they 
had  had  nothing  but  indigestible  dried  com  to  eat  for 
the  last  four  days,   and   they  were  both  hungry  and 


40        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

thirsty.  I  demanded  from  the  Prime  Minister  a  suffi- 
ciency of  food  for  them,  and  it  being  two  days  before 
Christmas,  asked  him  to  give  them  a  specially  good 
dinner  on  that  day.  He  promptly  agreed,  and  immedi- 
ately ordered  over  700  kettles  in  which  the  food  could 
be  cooked  and  served.  He  also  promised  to  provide 
sufficient  hospital  space  for  the  sick  prisoners.  On 
Christmas  day,  the  prisoners  received  soup,  rice  and 
mutton.  This  highly  pleased  all  of  them,  and  they 
united  in  giving  credit  to  the  American  Minister  for  the 
unexpected  good  food. 

Quarters  for  the  soldiers  were  provided  as  agreed  in 
the  old  barracks  and  warehouses,  while  the  officers  were 
placed  in  a  building  in  the  park.  I  spoke  to  a  number 
of  these  officers  of  different  nationalities,  and  not  one 
of  them  voiced  any  complaint.  Because  of  their  success 
in  the  last  battles,  when  they  took  40,000  prisoners  and 
many  guns  and  other  booty,  the  Serbians  generally  felt 
very  kindly  disposed  toward  their  prisoners. 

Before  leaving  Nish,  I  distributed  all  the  gifts  sent 
by  the  American  children  to  the  Serbian  children,  for 
which  the  latter  sent  their  thanks  to  America.  I  also 
arranged  with  the  American  Consul  for  the  prisoners  to 
use  the  rear  room  of  his  consulate  for  writing.  Advan- 
tage was  taken  of  this  arrangement  to  such  an  extent 
that  when  I  left  on  the  last  day  of  the  month,  I  carried 
with  me  ten  thousand  postal  cards  written  by  war 
prisoners.    These  were  passed  by  Serbian  censors. 

Then  I  went  to  Sofia,  and  while  there  endeavored  to 
ascertain  the  sympathies  of  the  people  with  relation  to 
the  combatants.  It  was  evident  that  in  numbers  they 
were  about  equally  divided.  Many  people  believed 
that  if  Serbia  was  defeated  by  the  Austro-Hungarians, 


SERBIAN  TRIUMPHS  ON   BATTLEFIELDS         41 

Bulgaria  might  be  the  next  victim.  It  was  evident  to 
me  that  the  government  and  the  people  close  to  it  were 
on  the  other  side,  and  desired  the  triumph  of  Austria. 

Our  American  consular  agent,  Mr.  Kermektchieff, 
who  was  a  Bulgarian  physician,  was  one  of  those  v/ho 
believed  that  Bulgaria  should  side  against  Russia.  He 
had  written  books  on  the  subject,  and  when  I  discovered 
what  these  books  contained,  I  asked  him  to  hand  in  his 
resignation,  because  our  country  was  strictly  neutral, 
and  we  could  not  have  an  agent  who  was  agitating  for 
either  side.  He  was  a  well  known  man,  and  an  intimate 
friend  of  Czar  Ferdinand.  One  of  his  brothers  was  a 
lawyer  in  Sofia,  and  another  was  secretary  of  the  Bulga- 
rian Legation  in  Rome.  The  latter  married  a  German 
girl  whose  parents  were  part  owners  of  the  Hotel  Kaiserhof 
in  Berlin,  and  I  thought  it  probable  that  this  brother's 
influence  affected  our  consular  agent.  After  I  had 
declared  my  views  as  to  the  proper  attitude  of  our  coun- 
try's representatives,  I  was  regarded  in  Bulgaria  as  a 
strictly  neutral  man,  with  Entente  inclinations. 

I  returned  to  Bucharest  on  the  first  of  January,  and  a 
few  days  later  received  a  telegram  from  Nish  that  typhus 
exanthematicus  had  broken  out,  and  that  thousands  of 
Serbians  and  a  great  many  of  the  war  prisoners  were 
affected.  It  proved  so  severe  that  in  less  than  three 
months  over  50,000  people  died,  which  included  about 
two-thirds  of  the  Serbian  doctors  and  15,000  war 
prisoners. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1915,  I  received  an  unsigned 
telegram  from  Nish,  notifying  me  that  in  front  of  one  of 
the  hospitals  there  three  hundred  bodies  were  lying, 
which  were  polluting  the  air,  and  that  unless  they  were 
removed  at  once,  many  patients  at  the  hospital,  among 


42        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

them  many  prisoners  of  war,  would  die  from  the  poison- 
ous efRuvium. 

I  at  once  telegraphed  to  Prime  Minister  Pachich  ask- 
ing him  to  have  the  bodies  removed.  He  answered  that 
the  reason  why  the  bodies  were  not  buried  was  because 
they  did  not  have  enough  coffins.  I  telegraphed  back 
to  bury  the  bodies  -without  coffins,  which  was  done,  and 
this  plan  was  followed  thereafter  whenever  necessary. 

I  asked  the  Department  of  State  for  help  from  the 
American  Red  Cross,  and  that  organization  responded 
nobly  with  doctors,  nurses  and  medicines.  The  French 
and  English  also  rendered  great  assistance,  and  at  the 
same  time  Mr.  Frothingham  of  New  York  organized  a 
unit  consisting  of  doctors  and  nurses,  sending  them  with 
abundant  supplies  to  Uskub,  and  other  near-by  places 
in  Serbia. 

The  Austro-Hungarian  government  continued  to 
complain  that  its  prisoners  in  Serbia  were  being  mis- 
treated and  deprived  of  food  and  medical  help,  and  were 
left  to  die  like  cattle.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  Serbian 
government  made  like  complaints  to  me,  almost  every 
week,  of  conditions  in  Austria.  The  Austro-Hungarian 
government  endeavored  to  have  publicity  given  to  their 
charges  in  the  outer  world,  and  asked  that  an  inter- 
national commission  be  appointed,  consisting  of  citizens 
of  neutral  nations,  which  would  immediately  investigate 
the  Serbian  treatment  of  prisoners  of  war.  They  also 
asked  that  I  be  made  chairman  of  this  commission,  with 
the  sanction  of  my  government. 

Knowing  the  conditions  existing  in  both  countries, 
and  the  great  lack  of  facilities  for  proper  care  of  prisoners, 
I  informed  the  State  Department  that  I  did  not  wish  to 
serve  on  that  commission,  but  the  Serbian  government 


N.  Pachu'h,  Pri.mi-:  Mixisthr  of  Serbia 


SERBIAN  TRIUMPHS  ON   BATTLEFIELDS         43 

protested  it  would  accept  no  other  chairman.  Therefore 
when  I  received  the  second  request  from  Washington 
to  serve  for  the  sake  of  humanity,  I  agreed,  but  with  the 
imderstanding  that  I  would  not  go  to  Serbia  for  several 
weeks.  The  other  members  of  the  commission  were 
Colonel  Sola,  military  attache  of  the  Spanish  Legation 
at  Bucharest,  and  Captain  Billand  of  the  Swiss  army. 

Immediately  upon  my  acceptance,  I  telegraphed 
Prime  Minister  Pachich,  advising  him  that  the  commis- 
sion would  arrive  at  Nish  within  a  few  weeks,  and  request- 
ing that  he  promptly  take  all  possible  steps  to  improve 
the  situation.  In  the  meantime,  the  American  Red 
Cross  sent  money,  nurses  and  more  doctors  to  Serbia, 
while  the  Rockefeller  foundation  sent  Dr.  Richard  Strong, 
the  eminent  specialist,  and  seventy  sanitary  experts. 
Great  credit  is  due  Dr.  Strong  for  the  prompt  application 
of  measures  which  stayed  this  epidemic. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  state  that  all  the  units  from  America, 
England  and  France  worked  in  perfect  harmony  for  the 
relief  of  the  unfortunate.  The  value  of  their  work  cannot 
be  overestimated,  as  these  were  terribly  dark  days  for 
the  Serbians.  They  were  gaining  victories  on  the  battle- 
field, but  at  home  the  parents,  wives  and  children  were 
dying  from  typhus  and  other  diseases. 

Before  I  started  on  my  trip  to  Serbia  as  the  chairman 
of  the  International  Committee,  I  received  from  the 
Austro-Hungarian  government  a  silk  uniform  intended 
to  protect  me  against  lice,  but  I  did  not  wear  it.  I 
simply  wore  silk  underwear  and  silk  stockings,  with  my 
hands  in  gloves  tied  to  the  underwear,  which  was  suffi- 
cient protection.  This  precaution  had  to  be  taken  be- 
cause, during  the  epidemic  of  typhus  exanthematicus, 
the  lice  carried  infection,  and  they  crawled  from  the  foot 


44        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Up  to  the  breast,  where  they  usually  settled  and  poisoned 
a  person.  On  the  silk  they  could  not  crawl  as  well  as 
on  cotton  underwear,  and  they  would  fall  off.  The  best 
protection,  according  to  expert  physicians,  was  to  wear 
silk  underwear,  and  have  the  hair  and  neck  rubbed  with 
petroleum. 

In  the  meantime  the  epidemic  broke  out  in  Poland, 
where  the  greatest  misery  prevailed,  and  representatives 
of  the  American  Red  Cross  had  to  go  there  to  investigate 
conditions.  An  International  Society  for  Polish  Relief 
was  organized  under  the  presidency  of  Mr.  James  W. 
Gerard,  our  Ambassador  to  Germany,  and  I  was  made 
one  of  the  vice-presidents.  Members  of  the  American 
Red  Cross  in  Bucharest  informed  me  that  all  supplies 
would  have  to  be  bought  in  Roumania  and  forwarded 
to  Poland  from  there,  and  requested  me  to  arrange  with 
the  authorities  for  permission  to  make  such  shipments. 

The  king  readily  granted  my  request,  stating  that 
he  was  willing  that  two  hundred  carloads  of  grain  be 
shipped  to  Poland  every  week  or  two,  as  long  as  the  emer- 
gency existed  there.  He  assured  me  of  his  sympathy 
with  the  Poles  and  of  his  desire  to  aid,  but  stipulated  that 
I  obtain  the  consent  of  my  colleagues,  the  Russian, 
English  and  French  Ministers.  I  insisted  that  the  ship- 
ments and  distribution  should  be  in  charge  of  the  Ameri- 
can Red  Cross.  I  so  advised  the  members  of  the  Red 
Cross,  and  telegraphed  these  conditions  to  Mr.  Gerard 
in  order  that  he  might  obtain  the  approval  of  the  German 
and  Austro-Hungarian  governments. 

My  colleagues  readily  agreed  to  the  proposition,  but 
the  Austro-Hungarian  government  balked  at  the  stipu- 
lation that  the  goods  and  their  distribution  should  be  in 
charge  of  the  American  Red  Cross.    They  based  their 


SERBIAN  TRIUMPHS  ON  BATTLEFIELDS        45 

objection  on  their  claim  that  they  were  donating  more 
Hberally  than  anyone  else  to  the  fund,  and  therefore  it 
should  be  distributed  by  their  own  men.  I  was  obliged 
to  notify  the  commission  that  my  colleagues  would  not 
accept  any  other  conditions  than  the  ones  first  named,  as 
they  claimed  that  the  Austrian  government  would  use 
the  supplies  for  the  army  and  not  for  the  civic  population. 

Because  of  the  Austrian  objection,  no  shipments 
could  be  made,  and  the  unfortunate  Poles  could  obtain 
no  help  except  such  as  was  procurable  through  the 
Scandinavian  nations,  which  made  it  much  more  difficult 
to  handle,  and  reduced  the  supplies  to  a  pitiful  amount. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war  in  Serbia,  the  Austro- 
Hungarians  sent  airplanes  to  Nish,  and  they  played 
havoc  with  the  population  there.  One  of  the  bombs 
exploded  about  twenty-five  feet  from  the  American  Con- 
sulate, and  the  consul,  Mr.  Young,  became  very  much 
excited  and  telegraphed  me  that  I  should  notify  the 
Austrian  government  to  give  instructions  to  the  aviators 
not  to  injure  the  American  Consulate  or  the  baby 
hospital.     I  telegraphed  him  back: 

"My  dear  Mr.  Consul:  Keep  cool.  Do  not  get  cold 
feet.  Everybody  in  Serbia  is  looking  towards  you.  Give 
a  good  example  of  fearlessness.  I  notified  the  Austrian 
government  to  do  as  you  desired." 


CHAPTER  V 

PROOF   OF   PLOT   BETWEEN   KAISER    WILHELM    AND    WIFE 
OF  ARCHDUKE  FERDINAND 

AT  the  end  of  March,  1915,  I  received  by  special 
messenger,  from  a  reliable  source  in  Bohemia, 
information  that  on  Saturday,  the  20th  of  March,  at 
10:30  P.M.,  three  salon  cars  had  arrived  in  the  depot  at 
Benesov,  in  Bohemia,  from  the  middle  one  of  which 
the  late  Emperor  Karl  of  Austro-Hungary  was  taken 
and  carried  to  the  palace  at  Konopiste.  He  had  been 
wounded  in  the  right  foot  on  the  battlefield  at  Pilica 
by  a  bomb  or  grenade  thrown  at  him  and  Count 
Lobkovic  by  a  German  soldier. 

Emperor  Karl  was  attended  by  a  military  physician 
until  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  March  22,  when, 
following  the  receipt  of  a  telegram,  he  was  taken  from 
Konopiste  to  the  depot  in  Benesov  and  carried  into  a 
government  train,  which  left  immediately  for  an  unknown 
destination.  Guards  were  distributed  from  Konopiste 
to  the  depot,  and  a  special  detective  service  was  organ- 
ized, of  twenty  soldiers  from  the  barracks  in  Benesov. 
It  was  rumored  that  Zita,  wife  of  the  emperor,  was  in- 
terned. She  was  not  at  that  time  in  Konopiste,  although 
the  children  and  their  teacher  were  there. 

After  the  death  of  Archduke  Ferdinand,  the  late 
Emperor  Karl  came  to  Konopiste  and  took  away  all  the 
correspondence  he  found  in  the  palace.  In  this  he 
secured  proof  that  Sophie,  the  wife  of  Archduke  Ferdi- 
nand, had  plotted  with  the  Kaiser  against  Serbia,  and 
had  discussed  plans  about  the  war  with  Russia. 

46 


American  Consulate  at  Nish 


Serbian  Metropolitan  and  Bishop  on  the 
Doorsteps  of  their  House  in  Nish,  with 
Minister  Vopicka,  his  Wife  and 
Daughter.  At  the  top,  the  Serbian 
Guide  to  Mr.  Vopicka 


PLOT  OF  KAISER  AND  WIFE  OF  ARCHDUKE      47 

It  had  been  agreed  that  after  the  defeat  of  Serbia,  it 
was  to  be  made  an  Austrian  province,  and  following  the 
removal  of  King  Peter,  that  the  throne  would  be  given  to 
the  eldest  son  of  Ferdinand  and  Sophie.  After  the  defeat 
of  Russia,  Ukrainia  was  to  be  made  independent,  with 
their  second  son  as  king. 

Kaiser  Wilhelm  approved  of  these  plans,  and  the 
action  against  Serbia  was  begun  with  the  intention  of 
carrying  out  the  designs  of  Archduke  Ferdinand  and  his 
wife. 

From  the  beginning  of  hostilities  between  Serbia  and 
Austro-Hungary,  efforts  were  made  to  get  a  definite  de- 
claration of  the  attitude  of  Bulgaria,  but  little  progress 
was  made.  When  the  Sobranje  opened  in  September, 
1915,  there  were  many  speeches  by  leaders  of  different 
parties,  but  the  keynote  of  all  seemed  to  be  that 
although  the  Bulgarians  were  Slavs,  they  were  Bul- 
garians above  all  else. 

The  Prime  Minister,  Mr.  Radoslavoff ,  made  a  speech 
containing  the  following  statement: 

"Bulgaria  adheres  to  her  neutrality  as  proclaimed  on 
July  21st.  There  are  no  complaints  that  we  have  broken 
our  neutrality,  and  where  questions  have  arisen,  they 
have  been  satisfied  with  the  explanation  given.  Although 
the  present  position  is  a  very  difficult  one  for  us  to  main- 
tain, I  shall,  supported  by  the  majority  of  the  Sobranje, 
carry  out  the  same  policy.  We  are  on  the  best  of  terms 
with  Roumania,  Greece  and  even  Serbia,  and  sustain 
most  sincere  relations  with  Turkey.  I  also  proclaim 
that  Bulgaria  has  her  integrity  assured,  and  whether  we 
are  obliged  to  come  before  the  Sobranje  for  more  author- 
ity depends  entirely  upon  the  attitude  of  the  European 
Powers." 


48  SECRETS  OF  THE   BALKANS 

I  advised  the  Department  of  State  of  the  situation, 
expressing  the  opinion  that  Bulgaria  was  trying  to  gain 
through  diplomacy  what  she  had  lost  on  the  battle- 
field during  the  last  year.  She  was  awaiting  the  develop- 
ments of  the  war,  and,  as  I  was  informed,  was  in  daily 
conference  with  representatives  of  all  the  fighting  powers. 
She  was  hoping  to  secure  Macedonia  from  Serbia,  Kavalla 
from  Greece  and  Silistria  from  Roumania  without  war. 
Neither  of  the  belligerent  parties  was  willing  to  promise 
this  territory  to  her,  and  the  other  Balkan  states,  Serbia, 
Greece  and  Roumania,  were  decidedly  opposed  to  giving 
her  anything. 

It  was  my  opinion,  furthermore,  that  until  the  war 
situation  became  very  dark  for  the  Triple  Entente,  nothing 
would  be  done  with  Bulgaria.  The  Triple  Entente  would 
not  bring  pressure  to  bear  upon  the  above  named  states, 
which  were  friendly  to  her,  to  make  these  concessions  to 
Bulgaria  unless  they  became  absolutely  obliged  to  have 
the  support  of  the  latter  country.  It  was  also  possible 
that  if  the  chances  of  war  should  favor  Germany  and 
Austria,  the  Bulgarian  government,  against  the  will  of 
its  people,  who  sympathized  with  Russia,  would  join 
them,  the  Bulgarian  government  believing  that  more 
could  be  obtained  from  Germany  and  Austria  than  from 
the  Entente,  as  Bulgaria  was  convinced  that  Russia 
desired  to  expand  Serbia,  which  would  mean  that  a  great 
part  of  Macedonia  then  held  by  Serbia  would  not  go  to 
Bulgaria.     My  prophecy  was  entirely  fulfilled. 

During  the  period  of  Russian  victories,  from  October, 
1914,  to  April,  1915,  the  Triple  Entente  was  passive,  and 
even  the  representatives  of  Russia  and  England,  as  was 
stated  to  me  by  Prime  Minister  Radoslavoff,  declared 
they  did  not  need  Bulgaria.     But  later,  with  Russia  being 


PLOT  OF  KAISER  AND  WIFE  OF  ARCPIDUKE      49 

continually  defeated  and  driven  back,  and  the  fighting 
chances  favoring  the  Germans  and  Austrians,  Bulgaria 
joined  the  Central  Powers  as  I  had  predicted.  It  is  my 
belief  that  if  prior  to  April,  1915,  Bulgaria  had  been 
offered  three  counties  south  of  Uskub  in  Macedonia, 
and  had  been  loaned  about  500,000,000  leva,  she  would 
have  remained  neutral,  or  would  have  joined  the  Triple 
Entente.  Even  in  the  month  of  May,  1915,  Bulgaria 
endeavored  to  effect  a  loan  from  France  and  England  but 
failed  to  do  so. 

Our  ex-consular  agent  in  Sofia  advised  me  that  the 
Bulgarian  government  was  looking  for  a  loan,  and  asked 
if  it  could  be  obtained  in  America.  I  sent  a  dispatch  to 
the  Department  of  State,  but  received  no  answer  for  a 
very  long  time.  From  published  reports,  I  understood 
that  some  concerns  in  America  were  considering  the  loan, 
and  I  sent  to  the  Department  of  State  a  detailed  state- 
ment of  Bulgaria's  finances  up  to  date,  but  no  answer 
being  received  by  June  15,  I  was  notified  that  Bulgaria 
would  wait  no  longer  and  that  she  would  tr>^  to  borrow 
the  money  in  Germany. 

General  Marko,  very  deeply  in  the  confidence  of 
Czar  Ferdinand,  was  sent  to  Germany  in  July  to  make 
arrangements  for  a  loan,  and  it  is  more  than  probable 
that  the  military  help  of  Bulgaria  was  an  important 
part  of  the  consideration.  Therefore,  from  that  time 
on  I  acted  on  the  belief  that  Bulgaria  would  sooner  or 
later  line  up  with  the  Central  Powers. 

Even  on  July  1,  English  representatives  showed  inter- 
est in  the  matter,  and  on  July  10,  1915,  I  suggested  to 
the  Serbian  Prime  Minister  the  possibility  that  if  Serbia 
turned  over  to  Bulgaria  the  territory  south  of  Uskub, 
the  Triple  Entente  might  reimburse  Serbia  for  it.     The 


50        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Serbian  Parliament  discussed  the  matter,  but  it  proved 
too  late  for  any  action. 

At  this  time  Turkey  was  very  short  of  ammunition, 
and  the  Germans  were  trying  to  get  some  in  through 
Roumania.  One  day  an  American,  who  had  been  doing 
business  in  Hungary  and  Austria  for  a  number  of  years, 
came  to  me  and  said: 

"  Germany  wants  to  send  ammunition  to  Turkey. 
There  is  a  good  chance  for  you  to  make  a  million  dollars 
without  any  trouble  if  you  will  obtain  permission  from  the 
Roumanian  government  for  Germany  to  send  several 
trains  of  food  and  provisions  to  Turkey  for  the  relief  of 
the  civic  population  in  Constantinople.  Of  course,  half 
of  these  trains  will  be  loaded  with  ammunition  secretly, 
but  you  do  not  need  to  have  any  personal  knowledge  of 
that.  You  can  accept  this  offer,  and  it  v/ill  appear  that 
you  are  doing  a  great  good  by  sending  relief  to  Turkey. 
The  reason  why  you  are  selected  is  because  no  other 
minister  could  obtain  the  permission  from  the  Roumanian 
government  but  you." 

I  told  him  that  I  thanked  him  for  his  interest  in 
me,  but  not  to  think  for  a  moment  that  I  would  be 
a  party  to  any  such  arrangement.  My  country  was 
neutral,  and  I  could  not  under  any  circumstances  aid 
any  party  at  war.  I  requested  him  to  make  no  more 
such  offers,  as  it  would  compel  me  to  sever  my  friendly 
relations  with  him. 

He  could  not  understand  my  refusal  to  avail  myself 
of  this  opportunity  for  personal  profit,  and  said  I  was  the 
biggest  fool  he  ever  knew,  but  he  clearly  understood  there 
was  to  be  no  further  discussion  of  it. 


Scene   near  Valjevo,  Serbia,  Ai-Tiik  the  Battle 

BETWEEN    AUSTRO-HUNGARIANS    AND    SERBIANS 


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Graves  of  Si:khiax  Soldiers  between  Kralji:vo  and 
Cacak  in  Serbia 


o 


CHAPTER   VI 

CONDITION  OF  PRISONERS  OF  WAR   IN  SERBIA 

N  the  15th  of  June  I  arrived  at  Nish,  with  Colonel 
Sola  and  Captain  Billand,  as  members  of  the  Inter- 
national Commission  to  investigate  conditions  affecting 
prisoners  of  war  in  Serbia.  On  the  17th,  it  was  arranged 
by  the  Foreign  Office  that  the  commission  should  be 
placed  in  the  charge  of  the  war  department,  under  the 
direction  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Schapinac,  who  owing  to 
illness  was  later  succeeded  by  Commander  Gaintch  and 
Dr.  Lebel  Korovic  from  the  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs. 
At  this  time  the  Serbian  government  stated  that  there 
were  33,000  prisoners  of  war  in  Serbia,  not  including  some 
thousands  who  were  employed  in  private  industrial 
works. 

These  prisoners  were  grouped  in  twelve  camps  or 
depots,  including  the  one  of  the  officers  who  were  interned 
at  Nish,  and  the  Gramada  depot,  where  were  grouped  a 
number  of  prisoners  working  on  railroad  construction. 
Rules  and  regulations  had  been  formulated  for  the  treat- 
ment of  the  prisoners,  and  the  chief  of  each  camp  or  depot 
was  held  responsible  for  the  observance  of  these  rules. 
With  Lieutenant-Colonel  Schapinac,  who  was  in  charge 
of  all  the  camps,  our  commission  visited  all  of  Serbia  and 
a  part  of  Macedonia  which  was  in  Serbian  possession. 
The  commission  finished  its  work  on  the  27th  of  July. 

Many  of  the  prisoners  of  war  in  Serbia  were  employed 
in  private  undertakings,  as  for  instance,  the  sugar  factory 
in  Cuprija;  or  in  public  works,  such  as  the  construction, 
repair  and  maintenance  of  the  railroads;  in  forestry  and 
agricultural   works,    in   state   administrative   work,    in 

51 


52         SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

military  administration,  in  construction  of  barracks,  in 
hospitals,  in  bakeries,  and  in  private  homes  as  domestics 
or  employees. 

I  personally  addressed  23,900  men,  asking  them 
regarding  their  treatment,  and  was  convinced  that  the 
Serbian  authorities  were  doing  everything  possible  under 
existing  conditions  to  accommodate  and  properly  care 
for  their  prisoners  of  war.  All  this  time  typhus  was 
epidemic,  and  there  was  much  other  sickness  in  the 
country. 

There  were  about  740  officers  held  in  Nish.  These 
were  interned  in  the  old  Turkish  barracks,  composed  of 
two  pavilions  with  an  interior  court  of  about  1,500  square 
meters.  This  was  planted  with  trees,  which  afforded 
shade,  and  furnished  with  tables  and  benches.  The 
officers  of  higher  rank  were  grouped  by  twos  and  fours 
in  private  rooms.  The  others  were  in  groups  of  from 
ten  to  fifty  in  large  rooms,  all  of  which  were  properly 
ventilated.  Each  officer  had  a  bed  with  a  mattress, 
a  covering  for  it,  a  pillow  and  a  blanket.  The  linen  was 
changed  every  week. 

For  each  small  group  there  was  an  orderly,  also  a 
prisoner  of  war.  They  had  four  kitchens,  one  for  the 
preparation  of  food  for  the  Slavs,  another  for  the  Hun- 
garians and  Croatians,  a  third  for  the  Germans  and  a 
fourth  for  the  Czecho-Slovaks.  On  the  day  of  our  visit, 
the  Austro-Hungarian  menu  was,  coffee  and  bread  for 
breakfast,  soup,  roast  beef  and  salad  for  lunch,  and  ham 
with  vermicelli  for  dinner.  Drinking  water  was  supplied 
from  the  spring. 

The  officers  selected  and  bought  their  own  food, 
receiving  an  allowance  of  three  dinars  per  day.  They 
were  furnished  a  private  slaughter  house,  and  there  was 


CONDITION  OF  PRISONERS  OP^  WAR  53 

a  canteen  where  they  could  procure  at  reasonable  prices 
such  things  as  preserves,  cheese,  alcohohc  drinks,  coffee 
and  tobacco.  Five  per  cent  of  the  receipts  of  the  canteen 
was  turned  over  to  the  Serbian  Red  Cross.  Each  officer 
had  his  own  Unen  and  had  it  laundered  in  town  at  reason- 
able prices.  The  single  bad  feature  the  commission 
discovered  was  that  some  of  the  toilets  were  in  unsanitary 
condition.  There  was  an  infirmary  attended  by  Serbian 
doctors,  and  serious  cases  were  sent  to  the  Nish  hospitals. 

In  the  barracks  there  was  a  small  chamber  intended 
as  a  place  of  detention,  in  which  there  was  a  good  clean 
bed.  The  rules  permitted  officers  undergoing  punish- 
ment three  promenades  of  one  hour  each  per  day.  The 
officers  were  privileged  to  write  one  postal  card  per  week, 
but  no  objection  was  made  if  they  wrote  twenty,  provided 
they  were  to  different  addresses.  The  officers  looked 
very  healthy,  only  they  were  suffering  from  lack  of 
occupation.  Some  of  them  volunteered  their  services 
in  the  information  office.  Some  gave  their  time  to 
drawing,  painting,  or  sculpture,  and  were  permitted 
to  take  views  in  town.  They  were  also  furnished  an 
organ,  and  occasionally  gave  theatrical  performances. 

Four  officers  had  attempted  to  escape,  and  in  conse- 
quence all  the  officers  were  denied  the  privileges  of  games, 
promenades,  and  baths  in  to\\Ti,  and  were  required  to 
go  to  bed  at  seven  o'clock,  but  at  the  request  of  these 
officers,  I  secured  restoration  of  their  previous  liberty. 

On  my  return  to  Bucharest,  I  endeavored  through 
the  Austrian  Minister  to  effect  an  exchange  of  the  invalid 
officers,  even  offering  two  colonels  who  were  held  in 
Nish  in  exchange  for  two  Serbian  officers  of  any  rank. 
But  unfortunately  the  Austrians  did  not  value  their 
colonels  very  highly,  as  they  paid  no  attention  to  the 


54        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

offer.  There  were  six  officers  who  had  attempted  to 
escape  from  Bardovac,  who  were  kept  incommunicado. 
Under  guard  they  were  permitted  to  exercise  twice  daily 
outside  the  building. 

Considering  the  great  misery  and  hardship  prevailing 
throughout  Serbia,  it  was  apparent  that  the  Austro- 
Hungarian  officers  were  better  off  than  even  the  better 
class  of  the  Serbians  themselves. 

The  treatment  of  private  soldiers  and  sub-officers 
in  every  camp,  except  two,  was  all  that  was  possible 
for  their  comfort  under  existing  conditions.  In  one  of 
these  cases,  we  found  that  the  chief  of  the  camp  fed  the 
prisoners  only  once  a  day  but  charged  for  two  meals, 
appropriating  the  money  for  the  meal  that  was  not 
served.  In  the  other  case,  the  colonel  in  charge  had 
neglected  to  give  proper  medical  attention  to  two  hun- 
dred prisoners  who  were  suffering  from  gangrene.  The 
commission  demanded  court-martial  and  punishment  for 
these  two.  In  some  places  there  were  no  beds,  and 
the  prisoners  were  obliged  to  lie  on  the  bare  floors,  and 
in  others  on  straw-filled  mattresses,  or  on  piles  of  straw 
which  were  provided.  Usually  the  men  changed  their 
underclothing  once  a  week,  most  of  them  doing  their 
own  washing,  but  frequently  no  soap  was  obtainable, 
which  made  the  work  more  difficult. 

In  some  of  the  larger  camps  there  were  infirmaries 
and  hospitals  where  some  of  the  prisoners  acted  as  attend- 
ants and  performed  minor  duties.  There  were  tailors  and 
shoemakers  for  repair  work,  and  after  work  was  finished 
all  were  permitted  to  employ  their  time  as  they  chose  up 
to  nine  o'clock,  the  hour  of  retirement. 

The  diet  generally  consisted  of  bread  and  soup,  with 
meat  about  twice  a  week,  but  in  the  camps  where  they 


CONDITION  OF  PRISONERS  OF  WAR  55 

were  working  they  were  regularly  furnished  with  meat, 
potatoes,  rice,  fat,  cheese  and  bacon.  The  morning  meal 
was  usually  served  at  six  o'clock,  consisting  of  soup, 
smoked  meat  or  bacon,  and  between  six  and  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  soup  and  meat  were  served.  In 
only  two  of  the  very  large  camps  a  mid-day  meal  was 
served,  generally  consisting  of  soup  made  from  haricots, 
potatoes  and  meat.  Examination  of  the  first  half  of 
the  camps  revealed  the  fact  that  no  vegetables  were  being 
served,  and  I  urged  that  some  be  included,  and  if  impos- 
sible to  get  anything  else  to  put  grass  in  their  soup,  to 
avoid  the  possibility  of  scurvy.  It  greatly  surprised  me 
to  discover  that  wherever  the  superintendent  of  the  prison 
was  a  man  selected  from  among  the  prisoners,  the  treat- 
ment was  far  more  harsh  and  severe  than  that  of  the 
Serbians. 

Owing  to  the  large  number  of  prisoners,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  use  almost  anything  available  for  lodgings.  Those 
we  saw  included  Turkish  palaces,  schools,  gymnasiums, 
coffee  houses,  private  residences,  shops,  stables,  ordinary 
barracks,  field  tents,  and  even  railway  wagons,  but  being 
in  the  summer  time,  almost  any  place  was  suitable,  as 
abundance  of  fresh  air  was  highly  desirable. 

In  Bardovatch,  the  prisoners  were  quartered  in  an 
old  pacha's  mansion,  and  we  found  that  the  halls,  which 
were  very  large  and  airy,  were  unused,  and  the  prisoners 
were  packed  like  herrings  in  small  rooms  where  all  the 
windows  were  shut  and  the  air  was  very  offensive.  The 
superintendent  excused  this  on  the  ground  that  the  odor 
from  the  toilets  was  so  bad  they  could  not  allow  it  to 
enter  the  rooms.  I  told  them  at  once  to  put  the  pris- 
oners in  the  large  halls,  which  allowed  ample  ventilation 
from  the  other  side  of  the  building.     Dr.  Richard  Strong 


56         SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

of  the  Rockefeller  mission  was  with  our  party,  and  he 
offered  to  supervise  the  sanitation  of  the  toilets. 

When  the  commission  returned  to  Nish,  I  asked 
Prime  Minister  Pachich  to  arrange  an  occasional  change 
of  diet  for  the  prisoners,  as  there  was  danger  of  illness 
resulting  from  continually  eating  the  same  kind  of  food. 
He  agreed  with  me,  and  asked  the  commission  to  make 
specific  recommendations,  which  was  done,  and  the  pris- 
oners were  thereafter  given  variation  in  their  food,  which 
was  much  more  acceptable  and  healthful. 

The  greatest  hardship  for  the  Austrian  soldier  was  the 
omission  of  coffee  at  the  morning  meal.  The  Austrians 
were  accustomed  to  coffee  from  infancy,  but  as  the 
Serbians  could  not  obtain  any  for  themselves,  of  course 
they  could  not  supply  it  to  the  prisoners.  We  found  that 
the  prisoners'  clothing  was  generally  in  very  poor  condi- 
tion, whereupon  the  Austrian  government  expressed  its 
willingness  to  send  new  uniforms  and  shoes,  although  the 
Serbians  were  then  furnishing  sandals  or  opincas  to  them 
without  charge. 

We  found  some  men  without  any  uniforms,  but  these 
had  been  sold  to  obtain  money  for  gambling.  In  some 
places  there  was  no  work  for  the  prisoners,  and  in  other 
places  they  were  given  occupation,  common  laborers 
receiving  from  forty  centimes  to  one  dinar  per  day,  and 
the  mechanics  being  paid  from  one  to  four  dinars  per  day. 
In  only  one  place  the  prisoners  complained  that  they  had 
to  dig  trenches  and  repair  guns. 

The  liberty  allowed  prisoners  depended  upon  the 
locality  and  surroundings.  In  some  places  they  were 
given  perfect  freedom,  and  in  others  restricted  to  certain 
territory  for  their  exercise. 

In  the  majority  of  cases,  the  commission  found  that 


CONDITION  OF  PRISONERS  OF  WAR  57 

the  prisoners  were  treated  with  great  consideration.  In 
fact,  considering  the  privations  of  the  Serbian  people, 
the  treatment  might  be  recorded  as  actually  benevolent. 

The  prisoners  acting  as  attendants  in  the  hospitals 
were  first  given  training  in  the  infirmary  school  in  Kragu- 
jevac.  These  hospital  attendants  fared  better  than  the 
ordinary  prisoners  of  war.  They  had  good  rooms  for 
themselves,  with  regular  beds,  blankets  and  pillows,  and 
they  also  received  milk  or  tea  in  the  morning.  The 
commission  visited  three-fourths  of  all  the  hospitals  in 
Serbia,  and  found  there  were  many  cases  of  typhus 
exanthematicus.  Numerous  soldiers  were  also  suffering 
from  recurrent  fever,  dysentery  and  diphtheria.  There 
were  very  few  cases  of  smallpox,  and  no  cholera.  We 
found  about  13,000  soldiers  and  prisoners  in  the  different 
hospitals. 

Naturally  the  danger  of  epidemics  greatly  decreased 
after  the  doctors  of  the  American  Red  Cross  and  other 
sanitary  missions  had  employed  vaccination  and  other 
preventive  methods.  Effective  and  noble  work  was  per- 
formed by  the  Rockefeller  mission,  covering  mainly  the 
district  in  New  Serbia,  the  mission  having  at  its  command 
complete  disinfecting  equipment  and  necessary  supplies; 
and  by  the  French  mission,  engaged  in  Old  Serbia  with 
the  exception  of  the  Nish  district,  where  the  Russian 
mission  was  employed,  and  that  of  Belgrade,  where  the 
American  Red  Cross  was  active. 

Much  curiosity  and  surprise  was  caused  at  first  when 
Dr.  Ryan,  who  was  director  of  all  the  hospitals  in  Bel- 
grade, ordered  the  floors  scrubbed  and  the  walls  cleaned 
every  day.  The  people  at  first  could  not  understand 
why,  but  after  observing  the  benefits  of  cleanliness, 
they  became  earnest  advocates  of  such  methods. 


58        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

From  infectious  diseases  the  mortality  was  greater 
among  the  prisoners  of  war  than  among  the  civilian  or 
military  Serbians.  Out  of  24,000  patients,  the  Serbian 
mortality  was  5  per  cent,  while  that  of  the  prisoners  was 
24  per  cent,  and  from  typhiis  the  Serbian  mortality  was 
13^^  per  cent  and  that  of  the  prisoners  40  per  cent.  As 
Serbia  had  no  large  concentration  camps,  it  was  necessary 
to  distribute  the  prisoners  throughout  the  entire  king- 
dom, which  made  it  much  more  difficult  to  exercise  uni- 
form control,  and  the  orders  of  the  headquarters'  staff 
were  carried  out  with  varying  degrees  of  rigor. 

The  first  relief  party,  which  arrived  in  Serbia  in  Janu- 
ary, 1915,  was  one  organized  and  sustained  by  the  Ameri- 
can philanthropist,  Mr.  Frothingham,  of  New  York. 
This  unit,  under  the  leadership  of  Dr.  J.  Rudis  Jicinsk^^ 
of  Chicago,  first  organized  a  hospital  at  Dzevdzelija,  and 
then  went  to  Skoplje  (Uskub),  where  it  engaged  in  relief 
of  Serbian  soldiers  and  civilians  suffering  from  typhus. 
Many  cases  of  tetanus  were  relieved  by  use  of  the  Ameri- 
can serum. 

Dr.  Jicinsky  informed  me  that  the  wounds  of  the 
Serbian  soldiers  were  often  frightful,  due  to  the  use  by  the 
Austrians  of  "  dum-dum  "  bullets.  He  stated  that  he  had 
extracted  many  of  these  from  the  Serbian  soldiers'  wounds. 

The  work  of  this  unit  was  of  great  importance,  and 
earned  the  heartfelt  thanks  of  the  Austrian  prisoners 
as  well  as  of  the  Serbian  soldiers  and  civilians.  Gen- 
erally it  was  found  that  the  camps  under  the  command  of 
military  officers  were  better  conducted  than  those  under 
the  direction  of  civilians. 

The  commission  recommended  new  buildings  for  the 
winter,  but  Prime  Minister  Pachich  informed  us  that 
such  plans  had  already  been  prepared.    Owing  to  the 


CONDITION  OF  PRISONERS  OF  WAR  59 

war's  reverses,  however,  the  Serbians  were  unable  to 
carry  out  these  plans. 

Our  experience  taught  us  that  while  a  few  prisoners 
expressed  the  wish  that  they  had  been  killed  on  the 
battlefield,  rather  than  be  obliged  to  endure  imprison- 
ment, life  was  still  held  dear  by  the  many.  For  the  future 
good  of  all,  it  is  highly  important  that  prisoners  of  war 
should  receive  humane  treatment.  It  would  seem  the 
part  of  wisdom  as  well  as  justice,  for  international  laws 
to  penalize  governments  that  do  not  take  proper  care  of 
war  prisoners. 

While  the  commission  was  passing  a  creek,  going 
from  Cuprija  to  Dobricevo,  although  our  automobile  was 
going  very  fast  and  making  a  great  noise,  I  heard  a  voice 
call,  "Mr.  Minister!"  I  ordered  a  stop  and  got  out,  and 
found  a  man  holding  two  horses  which  were  drinking 
from  the  creek.  I  asked  him  what  he  desired,  and  he 
told  me  that  he  was  from  Chicago,  where  he  had  a  furni- 
ture store.  He  said  he  had  a  wife  and  children  there, 
and  that  he  was  worth  about  $15,000;  that  out  of  patri- 
otic feeling  he  had  joined  the  Serbian  army,  and  now  he 
was  very  tired  of  it  and  lonesome,  and  he  thought 
he  had  already  done  his  share  of  fighting.  He  asked  me 
to  have  him  discharged  and  sent  home. 

I  asked  Commander  Gaintch,  who  was  with  us,  to  dis- 
charge the  man  and  procure  for  him  permission  to  return 
to  Chicago,  which  was  done  at  once.  I  advanced  him  two 
hundred  dollars  for  traveling  expenses  to  Chicago,  where 
I  hope  he  is  now  enjoying  life,  after  his  experiences  in 
the  great  war. 

In  different  places  in  Serbia  our  commission  found 
some  very  old  men,  and  boys  of  from  twelve  to  fourteen 
years,  among  the  interned  soldiers,  and  we  inquired  why 


60        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

they  were  there  as  prisoners  of  war.  We  were  informed 
that  they  had  been  transporting  ammunition  in  their 
wagons,  but  we  learned  that  this  was  not  their  fault,  as 
they  had  been  seized  by  the  Germans  and  Austro-Hun- 
garians  and  compelled  against  their  will  to  perform  this 
service,  those  who  refused  to  obey  being  shot.  My  col- 
leagues and  I  asked  the  Serbian  government  to  release 
these  unfortunates,  which  request  was  promptly  complied 
mth. 

At  Uskub,  we  were  received  by  the  Governor  of  Mace- 
donia and  many  Serbian  officers.  We  were  taken  to  the 
governor's  mansion,  where  we  discussed  our  mission  and 
plans.  The  governor  was  much  interested  in  ascertain- 
ing my  views  regarding  certain  Serbian  affairs.  I  praised 
their  country  but  said  I  could  not  offer  any  official  opinion 
as  the  United  States  Minister. 

As  a  matter  of  personal  opinion  I  expressed  regret 
that  there  was  a  dispute  over  Macedonia,  and  believed 
that  an  agreement  should  be  reached  with  Bulgaria. 
He  inquired  what  dispute  I  meant,  and  I  answered  that 
the  Bulgarians  wanted  the  three  counties  south  of  Uskub, 
and  that  if  I  were  a  factor  in  deciding  Serbian  policy  I 
would  consider  it  a  wise  move  to  cede  these  three  counties 
to  Bulgaria,  provided  they  secured  the  remainder  of  the 
beautiful  country  for  Serbia.^ 

He  and  the  other  officers  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  said, 
"What  do  you  mean,  Mr.  Minister?  Those  three  coun- 
ties are  Serbian,  not  Bulgarian." 

I  answered:  'T  am  basing  my  opinion  on  what  I 
have  heard  from  the  American  Sanitary  Mission,  which 
is  living  in  Veles,  and  from  others  who  have  assured  me 
that  these  three  districts  are  more  Bulgarian  than  Serbian, 
Greek  or  Turkish." 


CONDITION  OF  PRISONERS  OF  WAR  61 

I  said  it  could  not  be  expected  that  they  would  give 
up  this  territory  without  recompense,  as  Serbia  had 
sacrificed  many  lives  to  obtain  it,  but  if  the  case  were 
placed  before  the  Entente  Powers,  they  would  probably 
hold  that  Serbia  should  receive  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina 
to  replace  the  lost  territory.  However,  they  would  not 
agree  to  any  proposition  involving  the  loss  of  any  part  of 
Macedonia. 

My  suggestion  was  made  at  the  time  when  the  Rus- 
sians were  losing  ground  and  retreating  to  their  own 
country.  I  was  not  at  all  certain  that  there  was  yet  time 
for  any  arrangements  to  be  made  between  Bulgaria  and 
the  Triple  Entente.  But  I  knew  that  the  Bulgarians 
would  do  anything  to  obtain  the  desired  portion  of  Mace- 
donia, even  to  the  extent  of  breaking  any  agreement 
with  Germany  if  necessary. 

With  money  sent  m^e  by  the  Austro-Hungarian  govern- 
ment, I  had  purchased  supplies,  clothing,  etc.,  for  the 
war  prisoners  in  Serbia,  and  had  sent  the  goods  to  Serbia, 
requesting  their  immediate  distribution,  but  when  the 
commission  arrived  in  Nish  we  found  everything  I  had 
sent  stored  in  the  warehouse,  together  with  medicines 
and  supplies  furnished  by  the  American  Red  Cross. 
The  need  of  all  this  material  was  very  great.  The  colo- 
nel in  charge  of  the  warehouse  stated  to  me  that  lack  of 
transportation  had  caused  the  delay.  I  doubted  this, 
however,  and  asked  the  authorities  to  place  the  goods  in 
charge  of  some  other  man  who  would  ship  them  promptly 
to  their  destination. 

Then  the  Serbians  established  a  new  system  of  having 
the  money  for  war  prisoners  handled  by  branches  of  their 
Red  Cross,  and  this  appeared  to  work  in  a  very  satis- 
factory manner. 


62  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

After  this  inspection  trip,  I  realized  the  great  need 
of  food  in  Serbia,  and  after  much  persuasion  I  prevailed 
upon  the  Roumanian  government  to  supply  one  hundred 
carloads  of  com,  and  obtained  from  the  American  Red 
Cross  one  hundred  carloads  of  other  foodstuffs  and  differ- 
ent supplies.  With  the  assistance  of  two  members  of 
the  American  Red  Cross,  Miss  Shelly  and  Mr.  Stewart, 
I  was  able  to  send  these  two  hundred  carloads  of  pro- 
visions and  supplies  into  Serbia  just  before  Bulgaria 
entered  the  war. 

After   I   delivered  my  report  as   President  of  the 
International   Commission   for   the   inspection   of   the 
prisoners  of  war  in  Serbia,  I  received  the  following  letter 
from  the  Austro-Hungarian  government: 
Monsieur  l'Envoye: 

It  is  with  the  greatest  satisfaction  that  I  have  learned  from 
the  report  of  the  Commission,  which  was  charged  to  visit  the 
Austro-Hungarian  prisoners  of  war  in  Serbia,  that  this  commis- 
sion has  performed  its  difficult  and  responsible  task  with  so  great 
a  zeal  and  in  so  excellent  a  manner. 

The  work  of  the  Commission  is  of  two-fold  value  to  the  I.  and 
R.  government:  the  report,  which  gives  the  results  of  this  work, 
has  at  last  put  the  I.  and  R.  government  in  a  position  to  form  an 
opinion  of  definite  and  reliable  character  about  the  actual  situa- 
tion of  the  Austro-Hungarian  prisoners  of  war  in  Serbia,  and  has 
moreover  presented  useful  indications  as  to  what  means  should 
be  taken  for  the  bettering  of  the  situation  of  these  prisoners. 

I  therefore  consider  it  my  duty  to  convey  to  you,  Monsieur 
l'Envoye,  in  the  name  of  the  I.  and  R.  government,  the  very  best 
and  sincerest  thanks  for  the  energetic  and  careful  direction  of  the 
work  of  the  Commission  and  for  the  prominent  activity  which 
you  have  displayed  in  this  certainly  onerous  and  at  the  same  time 
not  undangerous  mission. 

I  have  the  honor  to  express  to  you,  Monsieur  l'Envoye,  the 
assurances  of  my  high  consideration. 

(Signed)  BuRiAN. 


Hills  and  Fields  ix  Gra.\l\da,  Seriha 


AUSTR0-HUNGARL\N    WaR    PRISONERS    AT    XlSH 


CHAPTER  VII 

BULGARIA    ENTERS    THE    WAR— SERBIAN    RETREAT- 
KING  PETER'S  HEROISM 

BULGARIA  entered  the  war  October  4,  1915,  claim- 
ing that  no  agreement  of  any  kind  could  be  arrived 
at  with  the  Entente  Powers.  As  the  Bulgarian  people 
generally  were  not  in  favor  of  this  step,  the  responsibility 
rested  entirely  on  Czar  Ferdinand  and  Prime  Minister 
Radoslavoff.  A  brief  review  of  events  and  conditions 
during  Ferdinand's  reign  may  shed  some  light  on  his 
attitude  and  on  that  of  the  Bulgarian  people  at  this  tim.e. 
On  the  abdication  of  Prince  Alexander  of  Battenberg, 
Czar  Ferdinand  became  ruler  in  the  year  1887  at  the 
age  of  twenty-six.  He  was  the  son  of  Prince  August 
of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Princess  Clementine,  daughter  of 
Louis  Philippe,  King  of  France,  and  was  therefore  of 
Austrian-German  parentage  on  his  father's  side  and 
French-Orleanist  on  his  mother's  side.  He  was  one  of 
the  best  educated  princes  in  Europe,  and  master  of  many 
languages;  of  distinguished  appearance,  highly  ambitious 
and  very  wealthy. 

In  April,  1893,  he  married  Princess  Marie-Louise  of 
Parma.  The  couple  had  four  children,  namely  Princes 
Boris  and  Cyril,  and  Princesses  Eudoxia  and  Nadeschda. 
They  were  staunch  Catholics,  but  had  their  first  son 
Boris  re-baptized  in  the  orthodox  church.  This  action 
did  not  gain  so  much  favor  with  the  Bulgarian  people 
as  Ferdinand  had  expected,  as  it  was  generally  considered 
an  act  of  policy. 

After  six  years  of  married  life,  Princess  Marie-Louise 
died,  but  her  character  and  actions  left  enduring  love 


64        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

in  the  hearts  of  the  Bulgarians.  Eight  years  after  her 
death,  Czar  Ferdinand  married  Eleonora  of  Reuss.  Be- 
fore this  princess  became  Czarina  of  Bulgaria,  she  was 
loved  for  her  many  acts  for  the  good  of  the  people,  which 
were  continued  on  even  larger  scale  in  Bulgaria.  She 
supervised  the  direction  of  a  modern  hospital  in  Sofia, 
and  was  Red  Cross  directress  during  the  war  with  the 
Turks.  She  was  devoted  to  her  people  and  tireless  in 
her  work  to  aid  wounded  soldiers,  orphans  and  the  desti- 
tute, and  in  devising  means  to  better  the  condition  of 
the  unfortunate. 

Czar  Ferdinand,  while  desiring  the  admiration  of 
the  world,  also  spared  no  effort  to  advance  the  interests 
of  Bulgaria  and  improve  the  condition  of  her  people. 
After  the  revolution  in  1848,  the  cause  of  education  had 
been  greatly  advanced  throughout  Europe.  Many  schools 
and  universities  were  built  in  different  countries.  Czar 
Ferdinand  built  many  schools  in  Bulgaria,  and  he  also 
greatly  improved  the  roads  throughout  the  kingdom  and 
modernized  Sofia.  He  was  very  popular  until  the  Bul- 
garians met  v/ith  defeat  in  the  second  Balkanic  war,  after 
which  time  there  was  a  general  revulsion  of  feeling. 

His  task  as  ruler  was  not  an  easy  one.  In  connection 
with  Bulgarian  affairs,  the  relation  of  Macedonia  required 
due  consideration,  as  many  of  the  Bulgarian  diplomats 
and  prominent  men  were  natives  of  that  country. 
Annexation  of  Macedonia  had  alv/ays  been  desired  by 
the  Bulgarians,  not  alone  for  territorial  expansion,  but 
to  free  the  Bulgarians  living  there  from  the  Turkish 
rule.  The  alliance  made  with  other  Balkan  nations  for 
the  purpose  of  liberating  Macedonia,  greatly  enhanced 
Ferdinand's  popularity.  It  was  his  desire  to  enter  Con- 
stantinople in  the  first  Balkanic  war,  but  Russia  made 


BULGARIA   ENTERS  THE  WAR  65 

objection,  which  caused  a  feeling  of  enmity  toward  that 
country.  On  the  other  hand,  Ferdinand  was  not  popular 
with  the  Russians,  although  he  had  acknowledged  that 
the  Bulgarians  were  under  obligation  to  that  country 
for  its  aid  in  securing  Bulgarian  independence.  This 
was  due  to  his  accession  to  the  throne  without  the  con- 
sent of  Russia  or  other  European  powers. 

Ferdinand  always  claimed  that  General  Savoff  pre- 
cipitated the  second  Balkanic  war,  which  resulted  un- 
favorably for  the  Bulgarians,  but  the  people  felt  that  he, 
as  commander  in  chief  of  the  army,  was  responsible. 
In  this  war,  and  then  in  the  World  War,  his  plans  and 
hopes  failed  miserably. 

Many  of  my  colleagues  held  that  his  sympathies  were 
entirely  with  the  Germans,  and  that  in  his  desire  to  help 
them,  he  sacrificed  his  own  country.  It  is  my  belief, 
based  on  my  knowledge  of  conditions,  that  while  Ferdi- 
nand's sympathies  were  to  an  extent  with  the  Germans, 
he  openly  exposed  their  cause  because  of  his  firm  belief 
at  that  time  that  Germany  would  be  the  victor,  and  that 
in  the  subsequent  sharing  of  the  spoils  the  aggrandize- 
ment of  Bulgaria  would  be  great. 

It  was  a  fatal  error  that  the  question  of  entering  the 
war  was  not  submitted  to  the  will  of  the  people,  as  I  know 
that  the  great  majority  of  the  Bulgarians  were  opposed 
to  the  step  taken.  Czar  Ferdinand  and  his  ministers 
were  therefore  wholly  responsible  for  the  terrible  losses 
sustained.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  his  son,  the  present 
king,  will  profit  by  the  mistakes  of  his  father,  and  that 
under  his  rule  the  country  will  again  become  great  and 
prosperous. 

With  Bulgaria  in  the  fray,  it  was  decided  that  she, 
with  Austro-Hungaiy  and  Germany,  would  combine  in 


66        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

an  attack  which  would  arxnihilate  Serbia.  The  doom  of 
this  country  had  been  decreed  before  by  the  Germans,  as 
a  removal  of  the  obstacle  to  their  hopes  for  extension  of 
power  to  the  Turkish  border.  The  German  Minister  in 
Bucharest  told  the  Serbian  Minister  there,  that  if  Serbia 
would  permit  the  transportation  of  ammunition  across 
her  country  to  Turkey,  no  further  attack  would  be  made 
on  her,  but  Serbia  refused  the  offer. 

Serbia  expected  that  the  Entente  Powers  would  send 
at  least  300,000  men  to  aid  in  her  defense,  but  unfortu- 
nately assistance  could  not  be  furnished  at  that  time 
and  Serbia  had  to  fight  alone. 

The  Greeks  were  bound  by  a  treaty  to  aid  the  Serbians 
in  case  of  Bulgarian  attack,  but  they  sent  no  assistance, 
claiming  that  the  treaty  held  good  only  in  case  of  attack 
by  Bulgaria  alone,  and  that  it  was  invalid  in  the  existing 
case  of  combined  attack  of  Bulgaria,  Austro-Hungary 
and  Germany. 

The  Serbians,  with  an  army  of  a  little  more  than 
200,000  men,  worn  and  wearied  by  the  wars  of  the  pre- 
ceding months,  were  attacked  on  all  sides  by  a  force  of 
about  600,000  of  the  enemy.  Owing  to  the  scarcity  of 
men,  the  railroad  running  between  Salonika  and  Uskub 
was  not  protected,  and  this  was  seized  by  the  Bulgarians, 
thereby  cutting  off  any  chance  for  help  which  might  be 
sent. 

The  Germans  and  Austro-Hungarians  outnumbered 
the  Serbians  more  than  two  to  one,  and  their  artillery 
strength  was  five  times  as  great,  which  odds  were  well 
nigh  insuperable.  The  Germans  had  reviled  the  Aus- 
trians,  because  in  every  previous  effort  to  cross  the  rivers 
Save  and  Danube,  they  had  been  repulsed  with  losses 
of  many  thousands  of  men.     But  when  the  Germans 


Park  for  Austro-Hungarian  Officers, 
Prisoners  of  War,  Nish 


Palace  in  which  Austro-Hixc.arian  Officers. 
Prisoners  of  War,  Were  Interned 


BULGARIA  ENTERS  THE  WAR        67 

attempted  similar  attacks  at  the  same  point,  they  met 
with  the  same  fate,  and  were  consequently  jeered  by  the 
Austro-Kungarians . 

After  the  armies  of  the  Central  Powers  had  effected 
these  crossings  by  reason  of  vast  superiority  of  numbers 
and  equipment,  their  losses  were  greatly  lessened  and 
those  of  the  Serbians  greatly  increased.  Man  against 
man,  the  Serbian  officers  and  soldiers  clearly  demon- 
strated their  superiority^  In  two  months  of  bloody  war- 
fare there  was  no  decisive  battle,  but  the  Serbians  con- 
tinually retreated  toward  what  remained  of  New  Serbia, 
and  to  Albania,  with  the  enemy  constantly  closing  in 
from  all  directions. 

Many  Serbians,  especially  those  living  close  to  the 
border,  for  their  protection  took  refuge  in  Roumania. 
In  Turnu-Severin  and  vicinity  there  were  at  one  time 
nearly  15,000  refugees.  The  Austrian  authorities  at 
Kladova  v/ere  trying  to  induce  them  to  return  home, 
and  it  was  also  claimed  that  the  Austrians  were  giving 
money  to  those  who  did  return.  At  this  time  the  German 
Minister  came  to  our  Legation  and  asked  me  to  notify 
the  Serbian  government  that  all  the  refugees  should 
return  to  their  homes  at  once,  promising  that  they  would 
not  be  molested.  The  same  afternoon  the  Bulgarian 
Minister  came  for  tea  at  the  Legation  and  made  the 
same  request,  and  the  Austrian  Minister  also  asked  the 
same  thing  over  the  telephone. 

I  first  wanted  to  know  why  all  three  ministers  were 
so  much  interested.  I  telegraphed  to  my  government 
regarding  it,  and  received  an  answer  that  if  the  three 
ministers  would  sign  a  written  guarantee  for  the  safety 
of  the  refugees,  I  should  communicate  their  request  to 
the  Serbian  government.    This  answer  came  in  about 


68  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

five  days,  and  when  I  received  it  and  asked  the  German 
Minister  and  his  colleagues  for  a  written  guarantee, 
they  failed  to  respond. 

At  that  time  the  newspapers  in  the  Allied  countries 
were  full  of  articles  regarding  the  cruelty  and  bad  treat- 
ment by  the  Germans  to  their  subjects  in  the  occupied 
territory,  and  therefore  had  I  sent  this  communication 
to  the  Serbian  government  as  originally  requested,  it 
would  have  indicated  that  the  Germans  had  been 
maligned  in  the  press.  My  interest  was  solely  in  the 
safety  of  the  refugees,  which  could  not  be  assured  with- 
out the  guarantee  requested. 

During  the  month  of  October,  the  Serbian  govern- 
ment was  obliged  to  remove  its  headquarters  from  Nish  to 
Kragouyevatz,  Stalatch,  Kruchevatz,  Trestenik,  Cralievo, 
Cacak  and  Uzice.  My  last  communication  from  Ameri- 
can Consul  Young  came  from  Cacak.  With  the  retiring 
army,  retreating  to  inhospitable  Albania,  were  taken  the 
war  prisoners  and  their  own  wounded  soldiers,  and  they 
were  accompanied  by  a  great  mass  of  the  civil  population, 
who  preferred  to  face  any  hardship,  even  death  itself, 
rather  than  submit  to  the  treatment  their  women  and 
helpless  people  would  probably  receive  at  the  hands  of 
the  conquerors. 

They  had  heard  of  the  horrors  of  Belgium,  and  they 
dreaded  the  invading  forces,  even  more  than  their 
ancestors  had  feared  the  merciless  Turks.  Therefore  they 
traveled  over  mountains  covered  with  snow,  and  through 
treacherous  swamps,  partly  filled  with  the  bodies  of 
human  beings,  horses  and  cattle.  Thousands  of  men, 
women  and  children  died  on  the  march,  from  hunger, 
exposure  and  sickness.  It  was  but  another  chapter 
in  the  history  of  Serbia's  fight  and  struggle  for  liberty. 


BULGARIA  ENTERS  THE  WAR        69 

With  his  people  on  the  march,  and  fully  sharing  all 
their  har.dships,  was  King  Peter.  I  first  met  King  Peter 
in  1914,  and  found  him  a  man  of  very  distinguished 
appearance  and  agreeable  manners,  although  his  health 
was  poor  and  he  was  then  quite  seventy  years  old.  As 
a  young  prince  he  had  followed  his  father  in  exile  to 
France,  where  he  enlisted  in  the  French  army  in  1870. 
In  one  battle  he  was  taken  prisoner,  but  escaped  and 
swam  across  the  river  to  join  his  army  again,  and  shortly 
after  he  was  severely  wounded. 

After  nearly  forty  years  of  exile,  he  returned  to  his 
country  in  1903,  and  immediately  advocated  alliance 
with  Russia  and  France  as  opposed  to  the  pro-Austrian 
inclinations  of  his  predecessor.  During  his  reign,  Serbian 
territory  was  extended,  and  the  population  increased 
from  2,500,000  to  15,000,000  people,  which  is  the  popu- 
lation of  the  present  country  of  Jugo-Slavia.  In  later 
years,  owing  to  his  age  and  continued  illness,  he 
entrusted  the  affairs  of  state  to  his  son.  Crown  Prince 
Alexander. 

From  September  to  November,  1914,  the  fortunes  of 
the  Serbian  army  waned.  The  Austrians  had  by  far 
the  greater  forces  and  constantly  received  reinforcements. 
After  the  loss  of  Krupania,  General  Putnik  ordered  the 
retreat  of  the  Serbian  army,  meanwhile  inflicting  great 
losses  on  the  enemy. 

December  2,  Belgrade  was  occupied  by  the  Austnan 
army,  but  owing  to  heavy  rain  for  two  days,  the  retreat- 
ing Serbians  were  not  immediately  pursued.  At  this 
time  King  Peter  was  receiving  treatment  in  Vrania,  but 
notwithstanding  his  physicial  condition,  and  disregard- 
ing all  remonstrances,  he  at  once  joined  his  army.  In 
this   desperate   situation,   with   the   enemies   victorious 


70         SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

everywhere  and  the  Austrian  airplanes  dropping  bombs 
on  the  helpless  Serbians,  King  Peter  appeared  and 
summoned  his  officers,  to  whom  he  said: 

"I  knov/  that  3^ou  are  all  weary,  and  long  for  your 
homes.  You  have  fought  bravely,  and  even  if  you 
abandon  the  light  now,  you  will  always  be  regarded  as 
Serbian  heroes.  You  have  sworn  to  defend  your  king 
and  your  country.  I  do  not  longer  hold  you  to  my  per- 
sonal defense,  but  we  are  all  bound  to  our  country.  I 
shall  remain  here,  and  those  who  wish  may  stay  with 
me,  and  either  be  victorious  or  die  for  the  cause." 

This  rallied  the  soldiers,  who  declared  that  they 
were  we^ry  only  of  retreating,  but  they  would  be  eager 
to  stand  by  the  king  in  an  offensive  action.  King 
Peter  then  went  to  the  trenches,  seized  a  rifle  from  the 
first  dead  man  he  found,  and  began  picking  off  the 
enemy.  Soldiers  were  killed  on  both  sides  of  him  but 
he  continued  undismayed. 

The  news  that  the  king  was  in  the  trenches  circulated 
quickly,  and  officers  and  men  were  filled  with  new  life 
and  hope.  The  retreat  continued  for  a  month,  when 
the  Serbians  halted  and  began  an  offensive  which  resulted 
in  a  great  Serbian  victory.  The  Austrian  army  was 
absolutely  overwhelmed,  and  40,000  prisoners  and  120 
guns  were  captured  by  the  Serbians.  In  a  few  days, 
Belgrade  and  the  whole  of  Serbia  had  been  deserted  by 
the  enemy. 

After  this  battle,  the  king  went  immediately  to 
Belgrade  with  an  escort  of  a  few  soldiers,  arriving  while 
the  city  was  being  bombarded.  He  went  first  to  the 
cathedral,  where  he  fell  on  his  knees  and  prayed.  The 
news  of  his  arrival  spread,  and  in  a  short  time  the  ca- 
thedral was  packed  with  the  people  of  Belgrade.    The 


AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN    OFFICERS,  PRISONERS    OF    WaR, 

Taking  Promenade  in  their  Park 


AUSTRO-IIUNGAKIAN    WaR    PRISONERS    IN    XlSH 


BULGARIA  ENTERS  THE  WAR        71 

king's  sons  and  many  officers  were  also  present,  and 
then  and  there,  while  the  bombardment  continued,  the 
Te  Deum  was  celebrated  as  never  before. 

Afterwards,  for  some  nine  months,  there  was  a  lull 
in  the  fighting.  The  Germans  agreed  to  make  no 
further  attack  if  Serbia  would  permit  ammunition  to 
be  shipped  across  her  country  to  Turkey,  but  this  was 
refused.  Then  followed  the  combined  attacks  of  Bul- 
garia and  the  Central  Powers.  King  Peter  immediately 
headed  his  army  again,  but  soon  realized  that  even  the 
greatest  heroism  cannot  resist  overwhelming  numbers. 
He  again  entered  the  trenches  without  arms  and  suffered 
from  illness,  cold  and  hunger,  but  he  stayed  with  his 
soldiers.  When  the  futility  of  further  resistance  was 
apparent,  he  joined  his  people  in  the  great  retreat. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

LAST  DAYS  OF  QUEEN  ELISABETH  —  CAUSE  OF 
BULGARIAN  ATTITUDE 

ON  February  18,  1916,  I  had  an  audience  with 
Queen  Elisabeth  of  Roumania,  the  last  audience 
she  was  ever  able  to  grant  to  anyone.  I  wished  to  thank 
her  for  the  present  of  her  book  of  poems  entitled  '*  Sweet 
Hours,"  written  under  the  name  of  "Carmen  Sylva." 
At  this  meeting,  her  majesty  discussed  politics  to  a  con- 
siderable extent.  She  expressed  her  pro-German  feelings 
in  very  strong  terms,  and  stated  that  the  existing  dislike 
of  the  Germans  had  been  inspired  by  the  Queen  Dowager 
of  Russia,  and  that  this  hatred  was  most  unjust. 

She  hoped  for  peace,  and  asked  when  it  might  be 
expected.  I  stated  that  if  the  Quadruple  Entente  should 
gain  a  decisive  victory  and  some  territory  from  the 
Central  Powers,  it  might  afford  an  opening  for  negotia- 
tions. For  instance,  if  the  Russians  took  Bukowina, 
that  would  be  sufficient  to  start.  The  queen  replied  that 
this  was  undesirable,  as  Bukowina  was  too  near  Rou- 
mania. She  stated  that  the  wife  of  the  Prince  of  Wied, 
late  King  of  Albania,  had  never  relinquished  her  claim 
to  the  throne,  and  that  at  the  end  of  th^  war  she  expected 
to  return  with  her  husband  to  Albania. 

She  said  she  had  been  informed  that  the  United 
States  was  in  favor  of  the  war  because  that  country 
profited  to  the  extent  of  a  hundred  million  dollars  a  year 
by  it.  I  told  her  that  this  statement  undoubtedly  ema- 
nated from  an  enemy  of  our  country.  I  was  sure  that 
our  government  made  no  money  on  anything  furnished 
European  countries;  that  while  individual  manufacturers 

72 


LAST   DAYS  OF  QUEEN   ELISABETH  73 

and  business  men  doubtless  made  profits,  the  government 
was  losing  many  millions  of  dollars,  and  that  if  money 
could  bring  about  peace,  the  United  States  \^'ould  con- 
tribute sufficient  to  reestablish  peace  in  Europe  at  once. 

Her  majesty  said  that  she  expected  peace  before  the 
end  of  July,  and  that  she  believed  that  none  of  the  par- 
ticipants in  the  war  would  derive  any  benefit.  She 
sharply  criticized  the  English,  and  said  that  that  na- 
tion was  deteriorating.  She  gave  me  a  book  entitled 
**  Adnam's  Orchard,"  by  Sarah  Grand,  an  English  woman. 
On  the  first  page  her  majesty  had  written,  "Fiat  Pax  — 
Elisabetha."  She  asked  me  to  read  it  and  give  her  my 
opinion. 

It  was  apparent  to  me  that  the  queen  was  very  ill, 
and  I  several  times  suggested  that  she  might  feel  better 
able  to  continue  the  conversation  at  a  later  time,  but 
she  said  that  she  felt  like  having  a  chat  about  the  war 
and  America.    Two  weeks  later  she  died. 

During  our  conversation,  the  queen  told  me  that 
after  the  coronation  of  King  Carol  in  1880,  she  endeavored 
to  establish  a  Court  Ladies  Society,  and  for  that  purpose 
invited  the  most  popular  ladies  of  Bucharest  to  a  meet- 
ing. While  awaiting  the  queen,  the  ladies  took  their 
places  in  the  order  they  thought  proper  according  to 
their  standing.  Her  majesty's  sight  was  deficient,  and 
when  she  came  into  the  room  she  greeted  the  first  woman 
she  encountered,  and  talked  vvdth  her  nearly  all  the  time. 
Although  this  woman  was  prominent  in  a  certain  manner, 
she  was  not  legally  married  to  the  man  whose  name  she 
bore,  and  consequently  the  ladies  of  the  party  were 
highly  displeased,  and  at  length  departed  with  as  little 
ceremony  as  possible,  declaring  that  they  would  never 
come  to   an3^  such  gathering  again.     One   result   was 


74        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

that  the  preference  shown  by  the  queen  induced  the 
man  to  make  the  woman  his  legal  wife,  but  another  was 
that  the  other  ladies  persistently  held  aloof  for  a  number 
of  years. 

Treatment  of  prisoners  in  Bulgaria  w^as  ver>^  much 
criticized,  and  it  was  claimed  that  the  Serbians  were 
abused  even  worse  than  the  others.  The  charge  d  'affaires 
of  our  Legation  in  Sofia  was  in  disfavor  v/ith  the  Bul- 
garians because  of  his  Entente  sentiments,  and  conse- 
quently the  authorities  gave  no  heed  to  his  requests. 
The  English  society,  under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Take 
Jonescu  and  Lady  Barclay,  were  endeavoring  to  relieve 
these  prisoners.  They  wished  to  send  about  seven  cars 
of  supplies,  but  doubted  very  much  that  they  v/ould  be 
given  to  the  prisoners. 

Later  I  received  a  letter  from  our  consul  general  in 
Sofia,  Mr.  D.  Murphy,  urging  my  immediate  presence. 
He  stated  that  the  Bulgarian  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs 
wished  me  to  inspect  the  camps  of  the  British  prisoners 
in  Bulgaria.  I  left  Bucharest  for  Sofia  on  Sunday, 
May  28,  and  returned  June  13.  At  Routchouck  a  great 
number  of  Bulgarian  soldiers  were  m.arching  through  the 
streets  and  singing  national  songs.  I  understood  their 
language  and  knew  these  songs  were  all  very  sad.  On 
our  tour  I  noticed  that  large  numbers  of  trenches  had 
been  newly  made.  Accompanied  by  our  military  attache 
and  Mr.  F.  Klepal,  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  v/e  arrived 
in  Sofia  on  Tuesday. 

By  order  of  the  secret  police,  no  one  was  allowed  to 
leave  the  depot  without  a  pass,  but  I  disregarded  the 
order  and  went  immediately  to  my  hotel,  leaving  the 
other  gentlemen  waiting  for  their  passes.  They  were 
detained  until  well  after  daybreak. 


Detention  Camp  for  ArsTRO-HrNOARiAN  War  Prisoners 

AT  Gram ADA 


Austro-Hungarian  War  Prisoners 
Transported  in  Railroad  Cars  in  vSerbia 


LAST  DAYS  OF  QUEEN  ELISABETH  75 

The  police  objected  to  the  presence  of  Mr.  Klepal, 
and  ordered  him  to  leave  Bulgaria.  I  made  an  appoint- 
ment with  the  Prime  Minister,  and  together  with  our 
military  attache  and  Consul  Murphy,  was  received  by 
him  at  ten  o'clock  that  morning. 

After  the  customary  preliminaries,  I  requested  pro- 
tection for  Mr.  Klepal.  It  appeared  the  objection  to 
him  was  based  on  the  fact  that  at  one  time  he  had 
worked  in  a  hospital  in  Serbia  under  Lady  Paget.  At 
the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Radoslavoff,  I  appointed  Mr. 
Klepal  as  an  attache,  and  the  secret  police  were  notified 
of  his  standing,  but  nevertheless  they  insisted  on  deport- 
ing him.  I  then  informed  the  Prime  Minister  that  if 
this  was  carried  out  I  would  also  leave  Bulgaria  imme- 
diately. It  was  apparent  from  the  telephoning,  that 
the  Foreign  Office  and  the  secret  police  were  not  working 
in  harmony,  and  also  that  the  latter  v/ere  superior  and 
were  the  deciding  power. 

I  made  complaint  to  the  Prime  Minister  that  many 
American  citizens  traveling  through  Bulgaria  were  de- 
tained and  badly  treated,  and  inquired  the  reason.  He 
assured  me  that  he  had  never  heard  of  anything  of  the 
kind,  but  if  such  things  happened  it  was  on  account  of 
the  action  of  the  charge  d'affaires  in  the  Hurst  case, 
but  he  promised  to  take  immediate  steps  to  end  any 
such  treatment.  In  all,  I  made  about  thirty-five  different 
requests,  which  I  asked  the  Prime  Minister  to  write 
down,  in  order  that  he  might  not  forget  any.  He  prom- 
ised in  advance  that  he  would  do  everything  that  I 
might  ask. 

The  trouble  over  the  Hurst  action  started  before 
my  arrival  in  Sofia.  Mr.  Hurst  was  the  vice-consul 
of  England,  and  had  been  permitted  to  stay  there  as 


76         SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

keeper  of  the  records  of  the  English  Legation,  but  when 
the  Bulgarian  consul  in  Greece  was  arrested  by  the 
Entente  Po\\^ers,  the  Bulgarians  wished  to  retaliate  by 
the  arrest  of  Mr.  Hurst.  He,  however,  came  to  the 
American  Legation  and  asked  for  protection.  Our 
charge  d'affaires  had  rented  quarters  for  our  Legation  in 
the  Hotel  Bulgaria,  and  when  Mr.  Hurst  came  to  him, 
he  promised  that  he  would  not  give  him  up  to  the  Bul- 
garian authorities.  When  the  Bulgarian  government 
demanded  that  he  be  given  up,  our  charge  d'affaires 
refused.  The  Bulgarians  then  placed  guards  at  the 
doors  of  these  rooms  so  that  Mr.  Hurst  could  not  leave. 
This  incident  caused  a  great  deal  of  ill  feeling,  and  our 
American  citizens  traveling  through  Bulgaria  suffered 
by  it.  The  action  of  our  charge  d'affaires  in  this  matter 
was  undoubtedly  the  reason  for  his  unpopularity. 

The  Prime  Minister  complained  bitterly  of  the  action 
of  the  Entente  Powers,  and  said  that  if  they  had  made 
any  concessions  regarding  Macedonia,  Bulgaria  would 
never  have  joined  the  Central  Powers.  He  said  that 
in  the  room  we  then  occupied,  he  had  urged  the  Russian 
Minister  and  the  English  Minister  to  comply  with  their 
desires  about  Macedonia,  which  he  thought  were  fully 
justified,  and  that  they  had  answered  him:  "We  don't 
need  Bulgaria,  and  we  shall  do  nothing  for  you." 

After  that  decisive  answer,  he  said  it  was  necessary 
for  them  to  join  the  Central  Powers  in  order  to  obtain 
Macedonia.  He  stated  that  so  many  of  the  public  men 
in  Bulgaria  came  from  Macedonia,  it  was  of  the  highest 
importance  that  Bulgaria  should  secure  that  territory, 
as  without  it  he  believed  they  never  could  preserve  order 
in  their  own  country.  He  asked  my  opinion  of  the  out- 
come of  the  war,  and  I  expressed  the  belief  that  he  was 


LAST  DAYS  OF  QUEEN  ELISABETH  77 

on  the  wrong  side,  and  stated  that  I  felt  sorry  for  the 
Bulgarians.  He,  however,  expressed  full  confidence  that 
the  Central  Powers  would  be  victorious. 


CHAPTER   IX 

ROUMANIA  DURING  PERIOD  OF  NEUTRALITY  — 
DECLARATION  OF  WAR 

AT  the  outset  of  the  war,  the  Roumanian  people  were 
anxious  to  array  themselves  on  the  side  of  the  Allies, 
but  King  Carol,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Hohenzollem 
family,  opposed  it,  and  claimed  that  Roumania  was 
bound  by  an  existing  agreement  with  Germany,  Austro- 
Hungary  and  Italy.  Because  of  this  decision  he  was 
attacked  daily  by  the  papers  and  at  public  meetings. 
The  Roumanian  newspapers  frequently  employed  car- 
toons, in  one  of  which  I  remember  King  Carol  was 
represented  with  a  bag  on  his  back  on  which  was  marked, 
"200  Million  Lei,"  and  underneath  this  the  inscription, 
"You  sackers  can  do  whatever  you  please  in  Roumiania. 
I  am  going  to  have  a  good  time  on  my  money  in  Ger- 
many." The  king  was  old  and  feeble,  and  was  very 
much  hurt  by  these  attacks,  which  perhaps  hastened  his 
death,  on  October  10,  1914. 

While  the  king  was  undoubtedly  pro-German,  he 
desired  the  members  of  his  family  to  refrain  from  any 
comments  on  the  military  or  diplomatic  conditions  of 
Roumania.  It  is  said,  however,  that  the  crown  prince, 
the  present  King  Ferdinand,  at  one  time  made  a  state- 
m.ent  that  he  was  a  Roumanian  crown  prince,  and  willing 
to  do  what  the  majority  of  his  people  wished,  and  for  this 
remark  the  king  had  him  confined  to  his  room  for  ten 
days. 

During  the  early  stages  of  the  war,  while  Roumania 
was  neutral,  there  was  very  little  change  in  conditions 
of  life  in  that  country.     The  crops  were  excellent,  and 

78 


International  Commission  Examining  Kitchen  for  the 

AUSTRO-HUKGARIAN    AND    GeRMAN    WaR    PRISONERS 


ArsTRO-Huxc.ARiAx  War  Prisoners 
Working  on  the  Railroad  in  Gramada 


ROUMANIA  DURING   PERIOD  OF  NEUTRALITY     79 

could  be  disposed  of  at  very  good  prices.  The  govern- 
ment was  making  preparations  for  participating  in  the 
war  if  necessary,  but  it  was  done  very  quietly  in  order 
that  the  Germans  would  not  suspect  it. 

It  was  current  rumor  that  Roumania  would  wait 
until  more  certain  v/hich  side  would  be  victorious,  and 
that  she  would  then  cast  her  lot  with  the  winner.  My 
firm  belief  is,  however,  that  the  liberal  government  of 
Bratiano  was  in  favor  of  the  Triple  Entente,  and  I  know 
that  the  sympathies  of  the  majority  of  the  Roumanian 
officers  and  people  v/ere  with  the  Entente  Powers. 

In  this  period  of  neutrality,  there  was  ordinarily  not 
much  entertaining  in  diplomatic  circles,  but  I  was  giv- 
ing a  dinner  to  diplomats  every  Thursday.  Aside  from 
that,  tea  was  served  at  the  Legation  once  a  week,  and  at 
one  time  I  gave  a  tea  party  with  a  dance,  and  my  daugh- 
ters invited  the  diplomats  of  all  the  countries.  To  my 
surprise  they  all  accepted,  and  at  the  Legation  the  Entente 
representatives  congregated  in  one  room,  and  those  of 
the  Central  Powers  in  another.  They  held  no  conver- 
sation with  each  other  but  mingled  while  dancing.  In 
the  journal  ''Near  East,"  one  of  the  guests  present  wrote 
of  this  party  as  follows: 

''Each  nationality  has  its  place  of  accustomed  resort, 
and  none  trespasses  upon  that  of  another.  The  Germans 
go  striding  in  their  large  German  way  into  the  Athenee 
Palace,  where  there  is  enough  of  gilding  and  enamel  to 
make  a  fit  frame  for  a  Prussian  officer.  The  Frenchmen 
are  more  at  their  ease  in  the  faintly  Bohemian  atmosphere 
of  the  Moderne;  two  or  three  lean  and  easy  English  have 
colonized  the  establishment  known  as  Capsa.  Not  even 
on  that  battle  line  which  extends  from  the  Baltic  to 
Bukowina   are   the   hostile   races   more   definitely   and 

6 


80        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

abruptly  sundered  than  here,  in  this  neutral  capital  which 
is  the  political  storm  center  of  the  Balkans. 

"Yet  a  few  days  ago,  Bucharest  held  the  spectacle 
of  most  of  those  young  men  gathered  together  in  the 
same  ballroom,  somewhat  stiff  and  formal  in  their  polite- 
ness, with  perhaps  a  spice  of  refined  venom  in  their 
punctilious  civility,  yet  going  so  far  upon  the  road  to 
peace  as  to  acknowledge  each  other's  existence  as  human 
beings,  and  to  leave  each  other's  throats  alone.  It  was 
in  the  nature  of  a  small  miracle;  Bucharest,  which  has 
watched  them  for  months,  saw  it  with  amaze;  and  the 
worker  of  that  wonder,  the  big,  bland  alchemist  whose 
compounding  of  good  nature  and  shrewd  American 
common  sense  made  it  possible,  was  the  Hon.  Charles 
J.  Vopicka,  United  States  Minister  to  Roumania,  Bul- 
garia and  Serbia." 

In  May,  1916,  Roumania  concluded  a  commercial 
treaty  with  Germany,  by  v/hich  Germany  bound  herself 
to  export  to  Roumania  articles  of  necessity  in  exchange 
for  com  and  petroleum.  The  Roumanian  government 
claimed  that  the  treaty  was  purely  commercial  and  had 
no  political  significance,  but  France  did  not  accept  these 
views.  The  French  Minister,  Camille  Blondel,  who  had 
held  the  post  in  Roumania  since  1907,  was  replaced  by 
Count  de  St.  Aulaire,  and  it  is  possible  that  the  treaty 
had  something  to  do  with  the  change  of  ministers.  There 
followed  great  activity  in  business  generally,  and  when 
the  Roumanian  government  issued  a  state  loan  of  150,- 
000,000  lei  at  84,  which  rose  to  a  premium  of  1>^  per 
cent,  the  amount  was  immediately  subscribed.  The 
government  than  increased  the  issue  to  400,000,000  lei, 
which  was  all  taken  in  a  fortnight. 

The  Roumanian  landowners  made  a  great  deal  of 


ROUMANIA   DURING   PERIOD   OF  NEUTRALITY    81 

money,  because  they  obtained  very  high  prices  for  their 
grain,  but  the  lower  classes  of  people  were  poor.  Meat 
was  scarce  in  Roumania,  and  in  Bucharest  no  meat  could 
be  sold  in  the  restaurants  and  markets  for  three  days  in 
the  week.  This  restriction  was  necessary  to  preserve 
stock,  as  the  peasants  were  frequently  attempting  to 
take  their  cattle  across  the  mountain  passes  and  sell 
them  to  Austria  and  Hungary  at  extremely  high  prices. 

The  strongest  political  parties  in  Roumania  were  the 
Liberals  and  the  Conservatives,  the  former  being  headed 
by  Mr.  J.  C.  Bratiano,  and  the  other  by  Mr.  Alexander 
Marghiloman.  The  followers  of  the  latter  were  classed 
as  pro-German,  although  it  was  claimed  that  the  majority 
of  the  members  of  the  club  were  anti-German.  At  the 
yearly  meeting  the  Conservative  party  divided  into  two 
factions,  one  electing  for  its  leaders  Messrs.  Lahovary, 
Take  Jonescu  and  Filippescu,  and  this  faction  was  strong 
for  war  on  the  side  of  the  Entente.  The  other  faction, 
headed  by  Mr.  Marghiloman,  advocated  their  neutrality, 
or  favored  war  on  the  side  of  Germany. 

In  the  summer  of  1916  I  took  a  vacation  at  Constanza, 
where  many  prominent  Roumanian  people  and  diplomats 
were  staying.  Many  military  officers  of  high  rank  were 
there,  among  them  General  Coanda,  who  was  in  charge 
of  the  department  of  artillery.  We  met  every  day,  fre- 
quently playing  bridge-whist  at  the  Casino. 

On  August  10,  I  mentioned  my  intention  of  leaving 
on  the  first  of  September,  and  said  that  I  had  everything 
ready  for  the  trip.  One  general  asked  if  I  was  sure  I  was 
going,  at  which  General  Coanda  looked  at  me  and  smiled 
very  significantly. 

On  that  day  one  hundred  carloads  of  ammunition  had 
arrived  from  Russia.    This  fact,  coupled  \\'ith  the  above 


82         SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

incident,  indicated  to  me  that  Roumania  was  getting 
ready  for  war,  and  I  was  convinced  that  she  would  enter 
on  the  side  of  the  Allies  in  a  very  short  time.  I  tele- 
graphed this  to  the  Department  of  State  nearly  three 
weeks  before  Roimiania  finally  entered  the  war. 

During  the  summer  of  1916,  the  Russian  offensive, 
led  by  General  Brussiloff,  greatly  influenced  the  belief 
in  Roumania  that  the  Entente  would  be  victorious. 

In  the  summer  of  1915,  the  Roumanian  Court,  to- 
gether with  all  the  ministers  and  diplomats,  moved  to 
Sinaia.  The  ministers  held  their  meetings  nearly  every 
day  and  whatever  they  did,  they  thought  it  was  in  secret. 

One  day  I  met  Mr.  Emile  Perumbaro,  the  Minister 
of  Foreign  Affairs,  and  asked  him  directly  whether  Rou- 
mania would  mobilize.  He  answered  that  they  would 
not  mobilize,  but  would  concentrate.  I  told  his  excel- 
lency: "Ten  minutes  ago  I  telegraphed  to  my  govern- 
ment that  Roumania  will  mobilize  under  the  name  of 
concentration."  At  which  he  laughed  so  heartily  and  so 
long  that  we  could  not  separate  for  some  time.  After 
catching  his  breath,  he  said,  "Who  is  keeping  you 
posted?" 

The  Germans  and  Austro-Hungarians  had  many  spies 
in  Bucharest  who  adopted  every  means  to  learn  what 
was  being  done  by  our  Legation.  On  one  occasion  a  trap 
was  set  for  me  with  a  young  woman  of  very  charming 
appearance  as  the  decoy. 

At  the  Hotel  Capsa,  where  I  lunched,  a  table  was 
reserved  daily  for  me.  One  day,  as  I  took  my  accustomed 
seat,  I  noticed  that  an  attractive  young  lady  was  the  occu- 
pant of  a  chair  at  the  next  table,  almost  touching  mine. 
To  my  surprise,  she  began  talking  to  me  as  soon  as  I  was 
seated.   *  As  my  official  position  was  well  known,  it  seemed 


1  / 

'-^i^CBP^I 

md 

German  and  Austro-Hungarian  War 
Prisoners  in  Bucharest 


ROUMANIA  DURING  PERIOD  OF  NEUTRALITY    83 

strange  that  an  imperative  rule  of  etiquette  should  be 
thus  violated,  it  being  clearly  established  that  a  diplomat 
cannot  hold  conversation  with  anyone  who  has  not  been 
properly  introduced. 

I  therefore  sent  the  waiter  to  inform  the  chief  of  police, 
who  was  dining  in  a  private  room.  The  chief  at  once  in- 
vited me  to  his  room,  and  told  me  that  the  young  lady  was 
one  of  the  cleverest  of  Austrian  spies.  The  next  day  she 
was  waiting  at  the  same  table,  but  I  seated  myself  at  an- 
other table,  and  she  made  no  further  advances  to  me. 

The  Germans  and  their  allies  omitted  no  opportu- 
nity to  gain  information  through  their  spy  system,  but 
only  two  of  their  hirelings  ever  succeeded  in  getting  into 
my  affairs,  and  these  spies  were  discovered  before  they 
did  any  harm.  One  was  a  clerk  in  the  Legation,  whose 
early  presence  at  the  ofifice  aroused  my  suspicion.  I 
found  he  was  opening  telegrams,  and  I  promptly  dis- 
charged him.  The  other  was  a  servant  girl  in  my  house- 
hold, whose  mission  was  to  learn  just  what  my  sympa- 
thies and  sentiment  might  be;  whether  strictly  neutral, 
or  with  a  leaning  to  one  side  or  the  other.  Needless  to 
say,  she  learned  nothing  which  was  of  value  to  her  em- 
ployers, or  that  could  give  them  any  hold  on  me. 

It  was  rumored  that  as  a  price  of  her  participation, 
Roumania  demanded  that  Transylvania,  Bukowina  and 
Banat  be  ceded  to  her,  and  that  the  Allies  were  willing 
to  comply  with  these  demands.  From  the  remarks  of  the 
Entente  ministers  with  whom  I  daily  came  in  contact, 
I  expected  to  hear  any  day  that  Roumania  had  entered 
the  war  on  the  side  of  the  Allies.  In  April,  1916, 1  learned 
in  Bulgaria,  from  all  classes  of  people,  that  war  with  Rou- 
mania was  greatly  desired.  Having  this  knowledge  when 
I  returned  to  Roumania,  I  was  astonished  by  the  state- 


84  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

ment  of  the  Prime  Minister  that  Bulgaria  would  never 
declare  war  against  them.  Undoubtedly  he  made  these 
statements  because  of  the  assurance  of  the  Prime  Min- 
ister of  Russia. 

The  agitation  fomented  by  the  students  in  Roumania 
certainly  influenced  the  decision  to  enter  into  hostilities. 
All  the  intelligent  men  of  the  country  greatly  desired  that 
the  four  million  Roumanians  who  lived  in  Transylvania 
should  be  free,  and  that  that  territory  should  be  annexed 
to  their  own.  The  same  was  true  of  Banat  and  Bukowina, 
where  the  majority  of  the  people  were  also  Roumanians. 
All  three  of  these  countries  were  at  one  time  part  of  Rou- 
mania but  had  been  wrested  from  her  by  Austro-Hun- 

gary. 

June  3,  1916,  Dr.  Kramarz,  one  of  the  Czecho-Slovak 
leaders,  and  a  friend  of  mine,  was  condemned  to  death 
for  high  treason,  by  the  military  court  in  Vienna,  together 
with  five  other  prominent  Czecho-Slovaks.  I  made  every 
effort  to  save  my  friend  from  death.  First  I  cabled  the 
State  Department,  but  fearing  my  cablegram  might  not 
be  delivered,  I  made  a  personal  call  on  Count  Czemin, 
the  Austro-Hungarian  Minister,  at  his  summer  home  in 
Sinaia.  I  told  him  that  consideration  was  due  me  from 
his  government  because  of  my  efforts  as  chairman  of  the 
International  Commission  that  investigated  the  condition 
of  prisoners  of  war  in  Serbia,  and  pleaded  for  mercy  for 
Dr.  Kramarz  and  his  associates.  He  said  he  could  not  in- 
terfere with  the  court's  action,  as  it  would  be  resented  as 
criticism.  I  told  him  I  did  not  raise  any  question  of 
guilt  or  innocence,  but  simply  asked  for  mercy,  and  I 
left  with  him  a  written  request.  He  promised  to  con- 
sider it,  but  the  next  day  I  received  the  following  letter 
from  him: 


ROUMANIA  DURING  PERIOD  OF  NEUTRALITY    85 

SiNAlA,  June  19,  1916.* 
My  dear  Colleague: 

In  acknowledging  receipt  of  your  letter  dated  June  16,  I  beg 
to  advise  you  that,  to  my  regret,  I  am  not  in  a  position  to  interfere 
in  favor  of  Dr.  Kramarz. 

Not  only  would  such  a  step  be  beyond  my  discretion,  but  it 
would  also  be  contrary  to  the  esteem  and  confidence  I  have  in 
our  military  judges  who,  by  their  sentence  itself,  have  proved  that 
the  person  in  question  is  guilty. 

In  repeating  my  regret  not  to  be  able  to  serve  you,  I  beg  to 
remain 

Respectfully  yours, 

(Signed)  Czernin. 

During  July  and  August,  many  German  and  Austrian 
business  men  inquired  of  me  whether  they  should  remain 
in  Bucharest  or  go  to  their  own  homes.  Generally  I  re- 
ferred them  to  their  own  ministers,  although  a  few  I  ad- 
vised to  leave  immediately.  Those  that  asked  their  own 
ministers  were  evidently  assured  that  nothing  would  hap- 
pen, and  they  remained,  and  many  were  interned.  For 
about  a  week  before  the  proclamation  of  war,  there  were 
many  internments  on  suspicion. 

That  war  would  be  declared  was  not  known  to  the 
German  sympathizers  until  the  night  before  it  happened. 
The  decision  was  made  at  the  CrowTi  meeting  held  on 
August  27.    At  this  meeting  there  were  present  the  king, 


*{Origwol) 

SiNAlA,  le  19  Juin,  1916. 
MoN  CHER  Collegue: 

En  vous  accusant  reception  de  votre  lettre  en  date  du  16  Juin,  je  m'empresse 
de  vous  faire  savoir  qu'a  mon  regret  je  suis  hors  d'etat  d'intervenir  en  faveur 
du  Dr.  Kramarz. 

Non  seulement  qu'une  telle  demarche  depasserait  ma  competence,  mais 
encore  elle  serait  en  contradiction  avec  I'estime  et  la  confiance  que  j'ai  dans  nos 
juges  militaires  qui,  par  leur  sentence  meme,  ont  prouve  la  culpabilite  de  I'indi- 
vidu  en  question. 

En  vous  repetant  mes  regrets  de  ne  pouvoir  vous  etre  agreable,  je  vous 
prie,  mon  cher  collogue,  d'agrecr  I'assurance  de  ma  parfaite  consideration. 

{Signed)  Czernin. 


86  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALICANS 

the  ministers,  the  generals,  and  Mr.  Take  Jonescu  and 
prominent  members  of  the.  Liberal  and  Conservative 
parties.    The  king  made  a  speech  in  which  he  said: 

**  Although  I  am  a  member  of  the  Hohenzollern  family, 
I  am  the  King  of  Roumania  first,  and  therefore  I  have  to 
do  what  my  subjects  wish  me  to.  I  perceive  that  the 
majority  of  the  people  are  asking  that  Roumania  enter 
the  war  on  the  side  of  the  Entente,  and  I  therefore  state 
to  you  that  I  am  ready  to  comply  with  their  wish. " 

He  had  ready  at  the  time  a  complete  plan  of  action, 
especially  regarding  the  movements  of  the  army.  The 
proclamation  of  war  was  prepared  and  read  in  the  meet- 
ing, and  it  was  delivered  to  the  Austro-Hungarian  govern- 
ment the  same  night  by  the  Roumanian  minister. 

As  a  rule,  the  Roumanian  people  are  undemonstrative, 
and  not  even  given  to  loud  applause  at  public  meetings, 
but  on  this  Sunday,  when  the  decision  of  the  government 
became  knov/n,  thousands  of  people  of  all  classes  marched 
through  the  streets,  cheering  for  their  king  and  their 
country.  After  the  procession  ended  and  the  crowd  dis- 
persed, I  visited  the  smaller  streets,  and  at  nearly  every 
house  a  soldier  was  bidding  farewell  to  his  family  or  his 
sweetheart.  All  expression  of  sentiment  indicated  that 
the  Roumanians  were  actuated  only  by  the  desire  to  aid 
humanity  and  to  free  their  brothers. 

On  the  day  war  was  proclaimed,  the  German  Minister 
came  and  asked  me  to  take  over  the  German  interests  in 
Roumania.  I  asked  him  if  he  had  expected  the  declara- 
tion, and  he  said  he  had  not,  because  he  had  had  assur- 
ances to  the  contrary  from  both  the  king  and  the  prime 
minister.  He  said  that  had  been  promised  him  long 
before,  and  I  told  him  he  should  have  had  the  promise 
renewed  every  few  days,  because  in  war  time  conditions 


wH-r 

^ 

l^ulL^flL^s^H^I 

1^"'  jj^  J 

Royal  Palace  ix  v'^ixaia,  Roumanla. 


Room  ix  Royal  Palace  at  Sinal\ 


ROUMANIA   DURING   PERIOD  OF  NEUTRALITY    87 

are  often  altered  very  abruptly.  I  promised  to  take  care 
of  the  German  interests  if  approved  by  my  government, 
and  also  told  him  that  on  the  10th  of  August  I  had  in- 
formed my  government  that  in  my  opinion  Roumania 
would  take  this  step  about  the  first  of  September. 

In  taking  charge  of  the  German  interests,  I  had  to 
attend  to  the  welfare  of  the  staff  of  the  German  Legation, 
and  also  to  arrange  for  their  transportation  from  Rou- 
mania to  Germany.  It  was  agreed  between  us  and  the 
Roumanian  Foreign  Office  that  the  Germans  and  Turks 
should  leave  together  on  one  train,  and  the  Austrians 
and  Bulgarians  together  on  another. 

The  Germans  and  Turks  left  on  Sunday,  the  week  after 
war  was  proclaimed.  I  sent  the  secretary  of  our  Le- 
gation with  them  to  the  frontier,  and  also  supplied  them 
with  10,000  rubles  in  cash,  as  they  were  without  funds. 
They  were  placed  in  a  fine  train  with  sleeping  cars,  but  the 
Austrians  and  Bulgarians  were  sent  away  in  cars  that  had 
all  the  windows  painted  black,  so  they  could  see  nothing 
of  what  was  happening  in  Roumania. 

Before  departure,  the  German  Minister  said  that  if 
Germany  realized  that  it  would  lose  in  the  war,  and  had 
only  500,000  men  left,  they  would  come  back  to  Roumania 
as  a  last  act  and  give  her  a  lesson  for  the  outrage  perpe- 
trated on  Germany.  Prince  Schaumburg-Lippe  said  that 
they  would  all  be  back  in  six  months. 

After  the  war  was  declared,  many  subjects  of  the 
Central  Powers  were  arrested.  Among  them  were  women 
who  were  accused  of  being  spies  for  the  Germans  and 
Austrians,  because  they  associated  with  the  Roumanian 
officers,  and  obtained  information  which  they  sent  to 
the  enemy.  There  were  393  of  these,  including  many 
German  girls  who  were  supported  by  the  American  Lega- 


88  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

tion  from  funds  sent  by  the  German  government,  and 
they  were  interned  at  Vacaresti,  a  short  distance  from 
Bucharest,  until  about  a  week  before  the  Germans 
entered  Bucharest.  When  the  chief  of  police  left  Bucha- 
rest he  entrusted  them  to  me,  and  I  requested  their 
discharge  the  day  before  the  Germans  entered  the  city. 
They  were  among  the  first  to  welcome  the  German 
soldiers  on  the  6th  of  December,  when  they  presented 
them  with  flowers,  candies  and  cigarettes. 


CHAPTER   X 

ROUMANIA  ENTERS  WAR  ON  THE  SIDE  OF  THE  ALLIES  — 
CONDITIONS  OF  UNPREPAREDNESS 

IMMEDIATELY  after  the  proclamation  of  war,  the 
Roumanian  army  marched  to  Transylvania,  the 
soldiers  and  people  full  of  joy  over  the  opportunity  to 
strike  a  blow  for  the  freedom  of  their  brothers  in  that 
country.  They  expected  to  win  quickly,  but  the  first 
surprise  and  disappointment  came  in  short  order.  The 
Germans  sent  airplanes,  which  made  the  first  attack  on 
Bucharest  on  August  29.  The  moment  they  crossed 
the  Danube,  with  only  twenty-three  minutes'  flight 
before  them,  all  the  city  church  bells  began  to  ring, 
the  policemen  blew  their  whistles,  and  a  gun  located  at 
the  Athenee  palace  was  frequently  discharged.  When 
these  signals  of  attack  were  given,  the  populace  was 
panic  stricken.  The  greatest  confusion  prevailed  during 
the  nerve  racking  din  of  the  bombardment,  and  nearly 
all  the  people  took  refuge  in  cellars. 

During  succeeding  airplane  attacks,  windows  and 
doors  were  protected  by  iron  shutters  in  the  day  time, 
and  at  night  the  houses  were  kept  dark,  black  paper 
being  put  on  the  windows  and  only  candles  being  used 
for  light.  There  were  very  few  lights  in  the  streets, 
and  these  were  much  subdued.  It  having  been  demon- 
strated that  the  bombs  from  the  airplanes  penetrated 
only  to  a  depth  of  about  thirty  feet  in  the  buildings, 
only  the  three  upper  stories  of  the  four-  and  five-story 
hotels  vrere  unoccupied. 

The  Roumanians  demanded  that  I  cable  my  govern- 
ment after  the  first  airplane  attack,  claiming  that  Bucha- 

89 


90        SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

rest  was  an  open  town,  and  that  the  action  was  barbaric 
and  unwarranted,  but  the  Germans  claimed  that  it  was 
a  fortified  city,  and  that  they  were  therefore  justified. 
The  second  attack  was  made  September  4  at  2 :00  a.m., 
with  the  powder  factory  the  chief  objective.  The  third 
attack  was  made  September  5,  between  2 :00  and  5 :00  a.m. 
This  was  directed  against  the  city  generally.  In  the 
garden  of  the  Royal  Palace,  a  bomb  made  a  pit  about 
five  feet  deep  and  fifteen  feet  in  diameter.  In  these 
attacks,  from  four  to  eight  airplanes  were  employed, 
which  dropped  bombs  containing  about  five  hundred 
pounds  of  explosives.  Four  of  them  struck  within  a 
thousand  feet  of  the  American  Legation. 

In  their  excitement,  the  people  demanded  that  two 
German  prisoners  be  executed  for  each  person  killed  by 
the  bombs,  and  even  the  newspapers  endorsed  this 
policy.  At  once  I  informed  the  Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs  that  this  agitation  must  cease,  and  I  said:  "If 
any  German  is  killed  on  account  of  the  airplane  raids,  I 
shall  leave  the  city  and  you  will  lose  your  best  friend, 
'Uncle  Sam.'"  I  stated  firmly  that  no  individual 
should  be  made  to  suffer  because  of  methods  adopted 
by  all  the  countries  at  war.  The  Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs  accused  me  of  favoring  the  Germans  in  this 
matter,  but  if  the  Roumanian^  had  followed  out  this 
plan  of  revenge  it  is  certain  that  the  Germans  would 
have  retaliated  m.ercilessly  when  they  captured  Bucharest. 

On  September  4,  I  served  an  ultimatum,  in  behalf 
of  the  Germans  and  Turks,  on  Prime  Minister  Bratiano. 
He  told  m.e  that  he  did  not  wish  war  with  Germany,  but 
I  told  him  that  the  German  attitude  was  based  on  the 
fact  that  Roumania  was  at  war  with  the  German  Allies. 

All  banking  houses  and  business  concerns  belonging 


Street  Group  of  Orientals 


Flood  of  Lepexitza  River  in  Serbia 


ROUMANIA  ENTERS  WAR  ON  SIDE  OF  ALLIES     91 

to  ths  Central  Powers  were  put  in  charge  of  administra- 
tors or  custodians,  and  the  deposits  of  enemy  subjects 
were  confiscated.  I  appealed  to  the  Roumanian  govern- 
ment in  behalf  of  the  poorer  German  depositors,  and  as 
a  result  these  were  given  an  allowance  of  from  100  to 
500  lei  a  month,  according  to  their  needs.  All  enemy 
subjects  were  notified  that  they  would  be  required  to 
leave  the  city  at  a  specified  time  for  the  places  of  their 
internment,  otherwise  they  would  be  jailed  in  Bucharest. 
Among  these  v/ere  some  Slavs  of  Austro- Hungary,  who 
were  friendly  to  the  Entente,  and  I  asked  that  they  be 
exempt  from  this  order,  but  as  the  Roumanian  govern- 
ment had  many  important  matters  to  occupy  its  atten- 
tion, it  was  not  until  I  had  personally  visited  the  camps 
and  given  a  list  of  names  of  those  w^ho  were  entitled  to 
freedom,  that  my  request  was  complied  with. 

Naturally  some  very  unfortunate  errors  occurred. 
In  one  internment  camp  I  found  a  man  seventy  years  old, 
whose  two  sons  were  officers  in  the  Roumanian  army. 
Of  course,  he  was  immediately  released  when  this  became 
known.  Among  the  interned  Germans  were  some  priests 
and  nuns,  who  received  a  little  better  treatment.  Under 
an  earlier  agreement  our  Legation  received  360,000  lei 
from  Germany  for  the  support  of  the  Germans  in  Rou- 
mania,  while  at  the  same  time  our  Embassy  in  Berlin 
was  given  300,000  marks  for  the  maintenance  of  Rou- 
manians there. 

After  each  airplane  attack,  I  cabled  the  State  Depart- 
ment, and  on  one  Sunday  morning  at  seven  o'clock, 
I  telegraphed  the  losses  of  the  previous  day,  and  added, 
"While  writing  this  telegram  eight  German  airplanes  are 
coming  to  the  city  to  do  some  more  damage  and  killing." 
It  was  claimed  that  the  aiiplane  crews  were  attempting 
to  kill  the  farmers  while  at  work  in  the  fields,  and  the 


92  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

veiy  serious  charge  was  also  made  that  it  was  intended 
to  kill  Queen  Marie  and  her  children.  It  was  stated  that 
it  was  intended  to  drop  bombs  on  them  on  a  certain 
day  when  she  was  expected  to  visit  the  summer  home 
of  Prince  Stirbey,  and  that  the  postponement  of  that 
visit  saved  her  life. 

Immediately  after  the  proclamation  of  war,  the  Ger- 
man, Austrian,  Bulgarian,  and  Turkish  Legations  were 
closed  and  the  ministers  with  their  attaches  and  employees 
had  to  remain  within  doors,  their  food  being  sent  to  them 
by  the  Foreign  Office.  This  was  done  for  their  personal 
protection,  as  it  was  deemed  unsafe  for  them  to  appear 
on  the  streets,  owing  to  the  intense  excitement  that  pre- 
vailed. 

Many  Germans  claimed  exemption  from  internment, 
affirming  that  they  were  Roumanian  citizens  or  pro- 
Roumanian  in  their  sympathies,  or  else  that  old  age  or 
sickness  justified  their  liberty.  Hence,  my  office  force 
had  to  work  many  hours  daily  investigating  these  differ- 
ent cases. 

The  Roumanian  army  had  been  very  successful, 
especially  in  Transylvania,  but  met  its  first  great  defeat 
at  Tuliarcaia.  Various  reasons  were  assigned  for  this 
defeat,  but  my  information  from  a  private  source  was  that 
on  the  night  of  September  6,  1916,  four  Roumanian  regi- 
ments were  encamped  near  Tukarcaia,  and  two  other  regi- 
ments a  short  distance  away.  Patrols  of  Bulgarians 
opened  fire  on  these  groups,  and  returning  the  fire  in  the 
darkness,  these  regiments  began  shooting  at  each  other. 
This  lasted  for  about  fifteen  minutes,  and  then  the  order 
was  given  to  charge  with  bayonets.  Only  when  they 
were  in  close  contact  was  the  fatal  mistake  discovered, 
and  the  fighting  discontinued. 


ROUMANIA  ENTERS  WAR  ON  SIDE  OF  ALLIES     93 

Meanwhile,  several  Bulgarian  regiments  began  to 
fire  from  all  sides.  The  Roumanians  were  at  a  great  dis- 
advantage. Also  the  civilian  population  of  Tukarcaia, 
mostly  Bulgarians  and  Turks,  began  shooting  at  the 
Roumanian  soldiers  and  drenching  them  with  boiling 
water. 

As  their  position  appeared  hopeless,  the  Roumanian 
commander  raised  the  white  flag,  but  even  then  the  Bul- 
garians did  not  cease,  and  in  the  end  they  had  killed  or 
wounded  10,000  men  and  taken  about  25,000  prisoners. 
The  escaping  Roumanian  soldiers  fled  in  all  directions. 
It  was  stated  that  the  garrison  at  Tukarcaia  included 
about  35,000  men,  but  the  fate  of  more  than  half  of  these 
remains  unknown.  This  was  the  beginning  of  ill  fortune 
for  the  Roumanian  side. 

There  were  six  mountain  passes  into  Roumania, 
Palanca,  Buzeu,  Predeal,  Campulung,  Caineni  and  Jiu, 
and  if  properly  guarded  by  about  60,000  men  each,  the 
enemy  would  have  been  greatly  delayed  in  getting  into 
Roumania,  and  perhaps  wholly  prevented  from  making 
the  invasion.  An  important  battle  was  fought  and  won 
by  Roumanians  at  Jiu  Pass,  but  the  commander.  General 
Dragamira,  was  mortally  wounded.  He  was  replaced  by 
General  Socec,  and  it  is  claimed  that  during  his  absence 
on  a  visit  to  Bucharest,  the  Germans  made  an  attack 
and  captured  the  pass.  On  this  charge,  General  Socec 
was  at  first  convicted  by  a  military  court,  but  on  an 
appeal  he  was  found  not  guilty. 

King  Ferdinand  was  commander  in  chief  of  the  army, 
with  Generals  Grigoresco  and  Avarescu  in  charge  of  the 
first  and  second  armies  respectively.  General  Illiesco 
was  acting  chief  of  staff,  to  which  place  General  Zlotow 
was  later  appointed.     In  a  short  time  the  latter  com- 


94         SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

mitted  suicide,  because  he  believed  he  had  made  some 
serious  errors.  The  Roumanian  army,  after  being  de- 
feated in  Transylvania,  was  forced  to  fight  on  its  o\vn 
territory. 

The  bulk  of  the  Roumanian  army  was  made  up  of 
inexperienced  soldiers,  who  to  a  great  extent  were  not 
well  officered.  Many  generals  whom  I  knew  personally, 
were  not  able  men,  and  some  were  even  strong  German 
sympathizers.  It  was  the  feeling  of  many  officers  that 
their  troops  were  not  well  commianded.  The  rank  and 
file  was  composed  of  men  possessing  all  the  elements  of 
good  soldiers,  and  in  close  encounters  they  invariably 
compelled  their  enemies  to  retreat.  The  Roumanian 
army  lacked  artillery,  their  heaviest  guns  being  six-inch 
and  the  great  majority  only  three-inch.  There  v\^as  also 
a  great  scarcity  of  hand  grenades,  which  could  have  been 
very  effectively  used. 

General  Illiesco,  who  was  chief  of  staff  during  the 
1916  campaign,  stated  to  the  press  that  the  old  Russian 
cabinet  of  which  Mr.  Sturmer  was  president,  was  respon- 
sible for  the  Roumanian  defeats  in  Walachia.  In  con- 
nection with  this  he  said: 

"From  the  beginning  of  the  war  our  government  knew 
we  would  have  to  join  the  Allies,  and  in  August,  1914, 
we  had  already  started  the  reorganization  of  our  army. 
It  was  a  difficult  task,  and  of  long  duration.  From  the 
number  of  180,000  men  we  had  to  build  up  an  army  of 
820,000  men' altogether,  of  which  560,000  had  to  be  ready 
for  fighting.  The  number  of  officers  had  to  be  increased 
threefold,  and  we  had  no  ammunition  or  machine  guns. 

'Tt  was  not  sui-prising  that  in  July,  1916,  considering 
the  great  difficulties  regarding  transportation  and  com- 
municating Vv^ith  our  Western  Allies,   notwithstanding 


A  Serbian  Porter 


Market  Place  ix  Nish 


ROUMANIA  ENTERS  WAR  ON  SIDE  OF  ALLIES    95 

all  the  work,  Roumania  was  not  ready.  Nevertheless, 
at  that  time,  Russia  practically  forced  us  to  immediate 
action.  The  wording  of  the  official  document,  which  I 
have  at  your  disposal,  is  'Now  or  never.' 

"The  Russian  government  submitted  to  us  elaborated 
plans  of  action,  but  they  had  omitted  to  take  into  consid- 
eration the  probable  future  course  of  Bulgaria.  When 
we  mentioned  this,  Mr.  Boris  Sturmer,  the  Russian  Prime 
Minister,  answered  that  Bulgaria  would  never  go  into 
war  against  Russia.  We  then  requested  200,000  Russian 
soldiers  for  the  Dobrudja  front,  but  were  told  such  a  num- 
ber was  not  necessary  for  a  purely  political  demonstra- 
tion. Twice  we  requested  the  Russians  to  start  opera- 
tions against  Bulgaria  by  occupying  territory  on  the  right 
banks  of  the  river  Danube.  Taking  Roustchouk  would 
have  been  a  security  for  our  capital.  The  French  staff 
were  of  the  same  opinion,  but  Russia  sent  us  a  formal 
order  to  abstain." 

General  lUiesco  gave  us  the  exact  story  of  the  Tran- 
sylvania campaign.  The  first  army  had  to  turn  upon  the 
Jiu  in  the  territory  of  Orsova.  The  second  had  to  go  all 
over  Transylvania,  and  the  third  had  to  advance  mth  the 
Russian  troops  of  Dornavatra. 

** Unfortunately,"  he  said,  "the  Russian  troops  did 
not  advance  a  single  yard.  Today  they  are  still  at  the 
same  place  as  at  the  time  we  went  into  the  war.  This 
also  compromised  the  Russians  themselves,  because  quick 
action  had  to  be  taken  to  shorten  the  Transylvanian  front. 

"Mr.  Sturmer's  government  forced  us  to  declare  war, 
having  need  of  our  troops  to  cover  the  left  end  of  the  Rus- 
sian army  in  Bukowina.  These  troops  had  to  remain 
where  they  were,  contrary  to  statements  made  both  to 
Roumania   and  France.    The   Roumanian   defeat   was 

7 


96         SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

foreseen  and  planned  by  Mr.  Sturmer,  who  expected 
through  this  to  end  the  war. 

**I  beUeve  that  when  Mr.  Sturmer  forced  us  to  enter 
the  war,  and  when  he  organized  our  campaign,  he  expected 
to  conclude  a  separate  peace  as  a  result  of  the  Roumanian 
failure,  and  one  which  would  not  mean  a  Russian  defeat, 
which  consequently  would  not  lessen  his  powers,  or  those 
of  the  Czar. 

"We  have  been  beaten  because  they  had  a  better 
commanding  staff,  but  chiefly  because  of  the  unfair  plan 
of  the  Germanophile  party  in  Petrograd  to  sacrifice  Rou- 
mania,  in  culmination  of  a  long  established  plan.  This 
was  something  sudden,  v/hich  no  Roumanian,  French  or 
English  diplomat  could  foresee,  and  was  the  cause  of  our 
fall. 

"Do  not  think  for  a  moment  that  there  was  ineffi- 
ciency on  the  part  of  the  heads  of  the  Russian  troops, 
as  these  officers  were  great  men.  Notwithstanding  our 
ill  fortune,  there  has  always  been  a  perfect  understanding 
between  us  and  the  Russians." 

About  five  weeks  after  Roumanian  hostilities  were 
started,  I  received  a  visit  from  the  Prime  Minister  about 
atrocities  committed  by  the  Bulgarians  in  Dobrudja. 
On  the  same  day,  our  charge  d'affaires  in  Bulgaria  tele- 
graphed me  that  the  Bulgarian  government  had  asked 
an  investigation  of  similar  acts  committed  by  the  Rou- 
manians in  the  same  place.  After  investigating,  and 
finding  grounds  for  the  charges  on  both  sides,  I  referred 
both  complaints  to  the  American  Secretary  of  State. 

The  Roumanians  claimed  that  the  Russians  did  not 
give  them  sufficient  support,  but  the  Russians  stated 
that  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  they  offered  between 
200,000  and  300,000  men  to  Roumania,  but  the  Rou- 


ROUMANIA  ENTERS  WAR  ON  SIDE  OF  ALLIES     97 

manians  desired  only  50,000  of  them.  The  Roumanians 
expected  an  early  victoiy,  and  believed  that  if  the 
majority  of  the  fighting  men  was  composed  of  Russians, 
the  latter  would  claim  all  the  credit,  whereas  they  wished 
the  greater  part  of  the  glory  for  themselves. 

The  attacks  of  the  German  airplanes  continued, 
which  engendered  so  much  hatred  by  the  populace,  that 
I  feared,  notwithstanding  my  protection,  that  some  of 
the  German  prisoners  might  be  killed  in  retaliation. 
Therefore  I  telegraphed  my  government  and  our  Em- 
bassy in  Berlin,  stating  that  unless  these  attacks  ceased 
immediately,  I  could  not  assure  the  safety  of  a  single 
German  in  Roumiania.  After  this  all  airplane  attacks 
were  stopped. 

In  November,  1916,  the  Roumanians  in  Bucharest, 
fearing  German  occupancy,  removed  their  official  records 
and  goods  into  Moldavia.  At  one  time,  about  15,000 
Roumanian  troops  crossed  the  Danube  into  Bulgaria, 
but  they  met  with  disaster,  5,000  being  killed  and  wounded 
by  airplane  bombs  and  fire  from  the  Austrian  gunboat. 
There  was  no  doubt  that  the  Roumanian  soldiers  fought 
heroically,  but  lacking  sufficient  ammunition  and  being 
wholly  without  big  guns,  they  did  not  have  a  chance  in 
the  encounter.  The  largest  Roumanian  guns  were  only 
six-inch,  whereas  the  Germans  employed  from  six-  to 
fourteen-inch  guns. 


CHAPTER  XI 

BURIED  GERMAN  EXPLOSIVES  FOUND  IN  ROUMANIAN  CAP- 
ITAL—  PLOT  TO   INOCULATE  HORSES  AND  CATTLE 

ON  October  5,  1916,  the  Prefect  of  Police  of  Bucharest 
asked  my  permission  to  search  the  building  and 
the  garden  of  the  German  Legation,  stating  he  had  been 
informed  by  the  guardian  that  there  were  many  bombs 
hidden  in  the  building,  and  some  buried  in  the  garden. 

As  representative  of  the  German  interests,  I  could 
not  give  him  this  permission,  but  he  stated  that  if  explo- 
sives were  buried  in  the  garden,  it  was  dangerous  for  the 
entire  city,  as  bombs  from  the  airplanes  might  fall  on  that 
spot.  He  said  he  would  not  insist  upon  going  into  the 
building,  but  he  felt  that  the  garden  should  be  thoroughly 
searched,  and  I  therefore  gave  him  that  permission,  send- 
ing the  secretary  of  the  Legation  with  him  in  order  to 
have  exact  knowledge  of  what  conditions  might  be  dis- 
closed. 

After  much  digging,  the  secretary  and  the  prefect 
reported  to  me  that  they  had  found  fifty  Bickford  cords 
with  charges,  and  fifty  metal  boxes  of  elongated  rectang- 
ular form.  They  also  found  a  box,  inside  of  which  there 
were  six  wooden  cylinders,  in  each  of  which  was  a  glass 
test  tube  containing  a  yellow  liquid.  On  the  inner 
wrapper  enclosing  the  large  box,  the  following  inscrip- 
tion was  written: 

''Very  secret.     To  the  Royal  Colonel  and  Military  Attache. 
His    honor    Herr    von    Ham      t  in" 

The  name  had  been  partly  erased,  but  distinct  traces 
remained  of  some  of  the  letters,  and  it  might  have  been 

98 


Roumanian  King  Addressing  People 


Mountain  Horn  Blowkrs  in  Roi'maxia 


.     GERMAN  EXPLOSIVES  IN  ROUMANIAN  CAPITAL    99 

Hammerstein.  Within  the  box  was  a  typewritten  note 
as  follows: 

"Herewith  four  tubes  for  horses  and  four  for  horned 
cattle.  For  use  as  directed.  Each  tube  is  sufficient  for 
200  head.  If  possible  administer  direct  through  the 
animal's  mouth,  if  not,  in  its  fodder. 

"Should  be  much  obliged  for  a  little  report  on  success 
with  you.  If  there  should  be  good  news  to  report,  Herr 
K's  presence  here  for  a  day  desirable." 

They  brought  the  bombs  and  boxes  to  the  American 
Legation,  but  I  ordered  their  immediate  removal,  fearing 
an  accidental  explosion.  The  prefect  sealed  the  boxes 
and  sent  some  of  them  to  the  laboratories  for  analysis 
and  test.  Later,  the  Royal  Pyrotechnical  Laboratory 
of  Bucharest  reported  by  letter  that  the  contents  of  the 
bombs  were  of  very  high  explosive  character.  The  Rou- 
manian Institute  of  Pathology  and  Bacteriology  also 
reported  that  the  liquid  in  the  test  tubes  would  inocu- 
late horses  and  cattle  with  infectious  diseases  of  deadly 
character. 

The  Russians  had  promised  to  furnish  Roumania  with 
2,800  carloads  of  ammunition,  but  had  sent  her  only  100 
carloads  before  the  opening  of  hostilities,  and  no  more 
was  sent  thereafter.  It  was  claimed  that  Prime  Minister 
Sturmer  of  Russia  had  all  the  other  cars  of  ammunition 
sidetracked  in  Russia,  and  that  when  he  assured  the  Rou- 
manians the  Bulgarians  would  not  make  war  on  them, 
he  knew  that  the  Bulgarians  desired  the  war. 

I  could  obtain  very  little  definite  information  from 
any  source  regarding  the  Roumanian  military  situation, 
until  Mr.  Stanley  Washburn,  an  American,  and  represen- 
tative of  the  ''London  Times,"  came  to  Bucharest.  He 
was  allowed  to  go  to  the  front  with  the  Roumanian  Army, 


100  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS  • 

and  upon  his  return  from  Transylvania,  he  said  to  me  in 
confidence,  *Toor  Roumania  is  lost."  This  was  heart- 
breaking, as  my  sympathy  with  the  people  among  whom 
I  was  living  was  very  great,  but  his  opinion  was  confirmed 
by  all  the  information  I  could  obtain  later  from  the  high- 
est sources. 

By  invitation,  on  October  1, 1  accompanied  the  queen 
to  her  hospital  in  the  Royal  Palace.  She  v/ent  from  room 
to  room,  speaking  to  the  wounded  soldiers  and  giving 
them  cigars,  cigarettes,  or  candy  from  a  tray  carried  by 
Prince  Nicolai.  She  was  utterly  downcast,  and  the  tears 
continually  rolled  down  her  cheeks.  She  afterwards  ex- 
pressed to  me  great  fear  that  if  the  Germans  captured 
Bucharest,  these  wounded  soldiers,  who  would  be  unable 
to  leave,  would  meet  their  death. 

My  colleagues,  the  foreign  ministers,  were  nervous  and 
were  making  preparations  to  move  with  the  royal  family 
to  Jassy.  The  English,  Russian,  Italian  and  Serbian  min- 
isters requested  me  to  take  charge  of  their  interests  in 
Roumania,  and  with  these  and  Turkey,  Germany,  Rou- 
mania, and  my  own  country,  I  had  the  honor  and  responsi- 
bility of  representing  eight  nations.  Also  I  was  to  take 
care  of  the  French  and  Belgian  interests  from  the  time  the 
minister  of  Holland  was  recalled.  The  foreign  ministers 
soon  departed,  and  the  secretary  of  our  Legation,  accom- 
panied by  the  military  attache  and  two  Am.erican  officers, 
also  went  to  Jassy.  The  king  left  on  December  2,  and 
the  next  day  the  Prime  Minister  and  other  officials  fol- 
lowed, leaving  the  people  in  a  state  of  great  depression. 
I  also  experienced  a  sense  of  desolation. 

In  war  times  the  envoys  and  consuls  are  sometimes 
justified  in  exceeding  their  authority,  especially  as  un- 
certain delivery  of  mail  or  telegrams  makes  it  impossible 


GERMAN  EXPLOSIVES  IN  ROUMANIAN  CAPITAL     101 

to  receive  official  instructions  in  time.  One  case  of  this 
kind  I  recall  was  in  November,  when  it  appeared  that  the 
Roumanians  would  be  obliged  to  retreat  from  Walachia. 
Mr.  Everett  Sadler,  in  charge  of  the  Standard  Oil  Com- 
pany's interests  in  Roumania,  urged  me  to  go  to  Ploesti 
to  assure  the  safety  of  the  Americans  working  there. 
From  \^•hat  he  told  me,  it  was  certain  that  the  danger  v/as 
great.  But  I  could  not  leave  my  post  and  I  could  not 
wait  for  instructions  from  the  Department  of  State,  as 
the  enemy  might  capture  the  town  at  any  time,  and  was 
likely  to  accord  the  Americans  no  better  treatment  than 
the  natives. 

I  therefore  appointed  Mr.  Sadler  a  vice-consul,  giving 
him  an  official  seal  and  a  sign  which  he  could  place  on 
the  building,  showing  that  it  was  occupied  by  an  Ameri- 
can vice-consul;  first  having  him  furnish  me  the  bond 
required  from  such  officials.  We  next  secured  the  con- 
firmation of  the  Roumanian  government,  and  he  returned 
to  Ploesti,  where  he  put  up  his  sign  reading,  "Office  of 
the  American  Vice-Consul,"  and  when  the  Germans  came, 
all  the  American  employes  and  their  families  took  refuge 
in  this  building.  The  Germans  respected  the  sign,  and 
none  of  the  occupants  w^ere  molested. 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Sadler's  appointment,  he  handed 
me  his  signed  resignation  for  use  when  desired.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  I  had  no  right  to  appoint  a  vice-consul 
when  no  American  consulate  existed  there.  If  there  had 
been  such  in  Roumania,  with  the  consul  temporarily  ab- 
sent, I  would  have  had  the  right  to  make  such  an  appoint- 
ment. I  unhesitatingly  exceeded  my  authority,  for  the 
protection  of  American  citizens,  and  I  notified  the  State 
Department  of  my  action,  but  before  my  dispatch  arrived 


102  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

in  Washington,  Mr.  Sadler  had  resigned  as  vice-consul 
and  was  on  his  way  to  America. 

After  the  loss  of  Tukarcaia,  the  next  great  loss  the 
Roumanians  sustained  was  the  taking  of  Constanza  on 
October  7,  by  the  German  and  Bulgarian  troops.  The 
enemy  went  in  that  direction  as  far  as  Harchova.  In  the 
west,  the  Roumanians  lost  Crajova  and  a  part  of  the  Olt 
River.  After  this  river  was  crossed,  Pitesti  was  taken, 
and  then  the  enemy  marched  southeast  and  captured 
Titu.  The  Roumanian  army  operating  at  Campulung 
retired  across  the  mountains  to  Campina,  and  from 
there  endeavored  to  reach  Ploesti.  The  Germans  were 
forcing  the  Roumanian  army  near  Bucharest  and  north 
towards  Ploesti. 

The  Bulgarian  troops  crossed  the  Danube  near  Zim- 
nicea,  and  also  near  Oltenitza,  and  were  fighting  near 
Bucharest,  together  with  the  army  coming  from  Crajova. 
On  Sunday,  December  3,  the  battle  ended  in  favor  of 
the  Germans,  the  Roumanians  retired  to  the  east  of 
the  city,  and  it  was  generally  expected  that  Bucharest 
would  be  obliged  to  surrender  on  the  next  day. 

That  afternoon  I  was  told  that  in  the  morning  the 
Roumanians  had  taken  about  5,000  German  prisoners, 
but  in  the  afternoon  the  enemy  was  reinforced  by  General 
Falkenhayn's  troops,  and  then  the  Germans  not  only 
retook  their  soldiers  who  had  been  captured,  but  also 
made  some  of  the  Roumanians  prisoners. 

The  civil  population  of  Bucharest  was  in  panic.  So 
many  fled  from  the  city,  that  there  were  only  about 
150,000  inhabitants  remaining.  On  the  next  day  many 
Russian  soldiers  arrived  on  foot  in  Bucharest,  and  they 
strenuously  opposed  capitulation.  It  appeared  that  the 
Russians  did  not  arrive  in  time  on  Sunday  to  reinforce 
the  Roumanians  because  of  the  bad  conditions  of  trans- 


Serbian  Peasants 


Peasant  Girl  from  Prahova,  Rou.maxia 


GERMAN  EXPLOSIVES  IN  ROUMANIAN  CAPITAL    103 

portation,  the  Roumanians  having  only  one  main  line 
over  which  they  could  come,  and  that  could  not  provide 
sufficient  accommodation  and  therefore  they  v/ere  obliged 
to  march  on  foot. 

Following  the  departure  of  the  court  from  Bucharest, 
the  people  were  very  nervous,  and  feared  that  the  enemy 
would  murder  many  inhabitants  and  commit  all  manner 
of  crimes.  I  gave  them  assurance  that  their  fears  v/ere 
groundless,  and  succeeded  in  quieting  them. 

The  new  Prefect  of  Police,  General  Mustatsi,  issued  a 
proclamation,  calling  upon  the  people  of  the  city  to  re- 
ceive the  enemiy  hospitcibly,  requiring  that  all  houses  be 
left  open  and  all  arms  of  every  description  be  delivered 
at  once  to  the  town  hall,  and  that  no  injury  to  the  invad- 
ing army  be  attempted.  The  penalty  for  disobeying 
this  order  was  death  by  shooting. 

Many  prominent  ladies  came  to  the  Legation,  asking 
permission  to  sleep  there,  and  there  were  between  five  and 
six  thousand  women  and  children  in  the  street  asking  for 
protection. 

The  last  man  who  left  Bucharest  before  the  city  was 
taken  by  the  Germans,  was  General  Stefanik,  who  was 
there  with  the  French  flying  corps,  and  who  afterwards 
was  the  first  minister  of  war  of  the  Czecho- Slovak 
Republic.  Owing  to  illness  he  was  unable  to  leave  any 
earlier.  He  asked  me  to  send  my  chauffeur  with  him  to 
the  headquarters  of  the  Roumanian  General  Staff,  but 
when  he  arrived  there  he  found  that  his  airplane  was 
out  of  order  and  could  not  be  used. 

My  chauffeur  had  to  take  him  to  Ploesti,  from  which 
city  he  escaped  in  the  nick  of  time.  On  the  return  trip 
to  Bucharest,  within  about  an  hour  my  car  passed  through 
the  advance  lines  of  the   Germans  en  their  way  to 


104  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALICANS 

Ploesti.  The  Germans,  and  especially  the  Austro- 
Hungarians,  would  have  been  very  glad  to  capture 
General  Stefanik. 


CHAPTER  XII 

BUCHAREST  TAKEN  BY  ARMY  OF  CENTRAL  POWERS  — 
RIGOROUS  RULE   OF   VON   MACKENSEN 

IN  THE  evening  of  the  fourth  of  December,  a  bUnd- 
folded  emissary  of  von  Mackensen's  arrived  in  Bu- 
charest, bringing  an  ultimatum  to  the  effect  that  unless 
the  city  was  surrendered  within  twenty- four  hours  it 
would  be  bombarded.  The  next  day,  the  mayor  of  the 
city  asked  me  to  go  with  him  on  the  following  morning 
to  meet  the  Germans  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  where 
he  would  discuss  the  surrender. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  sixth  I  was  summoned 
to  the  office  of  the  Minister  of  Interior,  and  at  nine  o'clock, 
the  mayor  in  his  automobile,  bearing  a  huge  white  flag, 
followed  by  the  Holland  Minister  and  myself  in  our  cars, 
with  our  respective  flags  flying,  went  to  the  outskirts  of  the 
city  to  meet  the  Germans  by  appointment.  We  waited 
over  two  hours,  meanwhile  hearing  firing  in  the  direction 
of  Chitila,  but  as  the  Germans  did  not  appear,  we  returned 
to  the  city. 

Half  an  hour  later  the  German  troops  began  to  enter 
the  city.  I  was  again  summoned  to  the  City  Hall,  where 
I  found  Prince  Schaumburg-Lippe,  with  five  other  officers, 
who  cam^e  to  receive  a  proposal  for  the  surrender  of  the 
city,  which  they  were  to  convey  to  General  Falkenhayn. 
The  mayor  signed  the  capitulation  with  tears  in  his  eyes 
and  handed  it  to  the  Germans.  Prince  Schaumburg- 
Lippe  laughed  when  I  said  to  him,  '*  I  am  sorry  you  did 
not  keep  your  word.  You  said  when  you  left  you  would 
come  back  in  six  months,  but  you  have  returned  in  three." 

105 


106  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

The  German  troops  who  were  then  arriving  appeared 
to  range  from  sixteen  to  sixty  years  in  age;  their  uniforms 
were  ragged  and  dirty,  an.d  they  looked  weary  and  hag- 
gard. But  as  they  marched,  they  sang  "Deutschland 
ueber  Alles"  and  ''Heimat,"  and  they  were  doubtless  very 
much  cheered  by  the  gifts  of  flowers  and  cigarettes  which 
v/ere  freely  offered  by  the  women.  A  few  of  these  were 
natives,  who  evidently  intended  to  placate  the  invaders, 
and  seemed  much  relieved  that  the  soldiers  did  not  imme- 
diately start  murder  and  pillage.  But  most  of  them  were 
German,  Austrian,  and  Bulgarian  actresses,  who  had 
been  released  from  internment  the  day  before.  That 
evening  all  the  officers  of  the  German  staff  came  to  the 
Legation  to  pay  their  respects  to  me.  They  chatted 
freely  about  the  campaign  against  Roumania,  and  ex- 
pressed the  wish  that  all  others  might  be  as  easily  con- 
ducted and  with  such  small  loss  to  them.  The  next  day 
I  received  the  following  letter: 

''The  Foreign  Office  has  the  honor  to  confirm  the 
receipt  of  the  reports  from  the  American  Legation  in 
Bucharest,  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  up  to  the  end  of 
September,  in  regard  to  the  Germans  who  stayed  in  Rou- 
mania, and  has  the  honor  to  express  to  the  Minister  the 
thanks  of  the  German  Government  for  his  valuable  ser- 
vice and  for  the  sending  of  the  reports." 

The  day  after  von  Mackensen's  military  government 
assumed  tontrol  of  Bucharest,  the  following  proclama- 
tion v/as  posted  on  all  the  government  buildings: 

To  THE  Inhabitants  of  the  City  of  Bucharest 

The  city  of  Bucharest  is  now  occupied  by  my  troops  and  is 
under  martial  law. 

We  are  at  war  only  against  the  Roumanian  and  Russian  army, 
not  against  the  Roumanian  people. 


HI  '^ ,.     .^BW 

^M 

tmM] 

nil^i 

bd^iWH 

RHp^lKjfl 

B^H 

H 

Roumanian  Wedding 


Guests  at  the  Wedding 


BUCHAREST  TAKEN  BY  CENTRAL  POWERS  107 

Those  who  offer  no  resistance  to  my  army,  and  willingly  sub- 
mit to  the  orders  of  the  military  authorities  and  tlieir  deputies, 
their  life  and  property  is  secure.  But  whoever  does  injury  to 
the  troops  in  my  command  or  attempts  to  give  aid  to  the  Rou- 
manian and  Russian  army,  against  which  we  are  fighting,  will  be 
punished  with  death. 

In  case  of  any  opposition  to  my  troops,  either  from  the  civilian 
population  or  the  civil  officials,  the  city  of  Bucharest  will  be 
held  responsible  and  may  expect  the  severest  measures  for  punish- 
ment . 

The  CommGnder-in-chief, 

(Signed)  V.  Mackensen. 
General  Field  Marshal  and  General  Adjutant. 

Headquarters,  December  6,  1916.* 

All  inhabitants  of  Bucharest  were  ordered  to  turn  in 
to  German  Headquarters,  at  once,  two-thirds  of  all  their 
provisions  and  supplies  on  hand.  A  short  time  after  they 
were  again  required  to  make  another  division  of  the 
meagre  remainder  of  their  supplies.  Disobedience  of 
this  order  was  very  severely  punished. 

German   reporters,   who   came   with   the   victorious 


♦(Original) 

An  die  Einwohner  der  Stadt  Bukarest 

Die  Stadt  Bukarest  ist  von  meinen  Truppen  besetzt;  sie  steht  unter  dem 
Kriegsrecht. 

Wir  fuehren  den  Krieg  nur  gegen  die  rumaenische  und  russische  Armee, 
nicht  gegcn  das  rumaenische  Volk. 

Wer  meinem  Herre  keinen  Widerstand  entgegensetzt  und  sich  den  Anord- 
nungen  der  militaerischen  Befehlshaber  und  ihrer  Beauftragten  willig  unter\virft, 
dessen  Leben  und  Eigentum  ist  in  Sicherheit. 

Wer  es  aber  unternimmt  den  mir  unterstellten  Truppen  Nachteil  zuzufuegen 
Oder  dem  rumaenischen  und  russischen  Herre,  gegen  das  wir  kaempfen,  Vorschub 
zu  leisten,  wird  mit  dem  Tode  bestraft. 

Fuer  jeden  Widerstand,  der  meinen  Truppen  von  seiten  der  Zivilbevoel- 
kerung  einschliesslich  der  Zivilbeamten  entgegengesetzt  wird,  wird  die  Stadt 
Bukarest  zur  Verantwortung  gezogen  und  hat  die  schwersten  Zwangsmassnahmen 
zu  erwarten. 

Der  Oberbcichlshaber, 

V.  Mackensen. 
Gemralfeldmarschall  wid  General- Adjutant. 
H.  Qu.,  6  Dezember,  1916. 


108  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

army,  greatly  praised  the  valor  of  the  Roumanian  sol- 
diers, mentioning  that  some  three  hundred  of  them,  who 
were  unarmed,  were  discovered  crawling  toward  the  Ger- 
man lines,  evidently  intending  to  capture  some  of  the 
enemy's  arms,  and  that  all  were  killed  by  German 
artillery. 

I  was  frequently  asked  what  my  attitude  would  be, 
and  particularly  if  I  intended  to  call  on  General  von 
Mackensen.  I  stated  I  would  call  on  him  only  if  invited 
to  do  so.  He  did  not  invite  me,  but  one  day  when  he 
was  walking  on  the  street,  with  a  detective  in  front  and 
another  behind,  I  was  in  my  auto,  which  bore  the  Ameri- 
can flag,  and  he  saluted  and  I  raised  my  hat.  His  fea- 
tures were  of  a  pleasant  type,  and  I  was  informed  that 
he  was  very  agreeable  in  manner  and  well  liked  by  the 
ladies  of  Bucharest. 

Before  the  arrival  of  the  Germans,  I  told  the  American 
residents  to  fly  the  American  flag  from  their  windows, 
in  order  that  the  Germans  might  not  molest  them.  Two 
weeks  later,  a  German  colonel,  who  was  quartermaster, 
called  at  the  Legation,  sending  his  card  to  me.  When  he 
came  in  my  office  he  was  accompanied  by  an  ill-looking 
civilian,  and  I  said,  *'  I  did  not  receive  any  card  for  your 
companion,  so  please  tell  him  to  leave,  as  I  am  not  ready 
to  receive  him." 

The  colonel  told  me  that  the  other  was  head  of  the 
secret  service,  and  that  he  wished  him  present  during  our 
conversation.  I  refused  consent  and  the  man  retired. 
Then  I  explained  that  it  was  proper  to  send  in  the  cards 
of  all  the  party.  This  colonel  was  bitter  toward  all  Ameri- 
cans, because  when  he  v/as  fighting  in  France  he  was 
wounded  by  a  shell  made  in  America.  In  a  high-handed 
manner  he  said  I  had  no  right  to  advise  Americans  to  put 


BUCHAREST  TAKEN  BY  CENTRAL  POWERS       109 

out  their  flags,  and  he  demanded  that  I  order  them  re- 
moved. I  replied  that  the  order  was  also  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Germans,  as  if  any  Americans  had  been  attacked, 
it  would  have  put  the  Germans  in  a  dangerous  position, 
and  therefore  they  should  thank  me  for  the  precaution. 

He  did  not  press  the  point  further,  but  inquired  then 
who  were  the  occupants  of  a  building  across  the  street. 
I  said  that  my  clerk.  Miss  Palmer,  lived  there,  and  he 
asked  if  he  could  enter  a  house  where  the  American  flag 
was  out.  I  told  him  Miss  Palmer  occupied  only  the  sec- 
ond floor  and  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  rest  of  the  house. 
Later  that  day  he  sent  soldiers,  who  removed  all  the 
valuables  from  the  remainder  of  the  house,  but  they  care- 
fully avoided  Miss  Palmer's  apartment. 

One  evening  I  attended  a  reception  at  the  home  of 
one  of  the  social  leaders,  but  as  it  was  apparent  from  the 
conversation  that  society,  as  it  existed  then,  was  decidedly 
pro-German,  I  thenceforth  accepted  no  more  invitations, 
because  of  my  neutral  position. 

I  now  held  daily  conferences  with  the  civil  governor 
of  Bucharest,  to  whom  I  reported  all  complaints.  In 
the  first  two  days  there  vv^ere  thirty  cases  of  robbery  and 
heinous  attacks  on  helpless  women  by  soldiers.  I  urged 
the  governor  to  take  preventive  steps,  and  he  then 
placed  six  soldiers  on  guard  at  the  crossings,  to  whom 
complaints  could  be  made,  and  this  acted  very  effectively 
as  a  check.  The  Germans  always  claimed  the  Bulgarians 
committed  the  crimes,  while  the  latter  placed  the  blame 
on  the  Austrians,  who  in  turn  charged  the  Turks  with 
them.  The  women  were  unable  to  identify  their  assail- 
ants, as  the  soldiers  generally  remained  in  the  city  only 
a  day  or  two. 

I  thanked  the  governor  for  his  precautions,  and  told 


no  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

him  it  was  far  better  to  be  decent  than  to  repeat  the  acts 
of  the  Germans  in  Belgium.  He  was  veiy  boastful,  and 
asserted  Germany  would  win  the  war  even  if  America 
entered  against  her.  I  silenced  this  boasting  by  offering 
to  make  a  liberal  bet  that  Germany  would  lose  if  our 
country  took  part;  his  tongue  was  very  loquacious,  but 
his  money  was  unable  to  talk. 

On  New  Year's  Day  I  wished  to  send  a  telegram  to 
the  Czar  of  Bulgaria,  as  I  had  done  each  year,  but  General 
von  Mackensen  refused  to  allov/  it,  stating  that  the  Kaiser 
had  ordered  that  no  New  Year  telegrams  be  sent  from  the 
front.  I  informed  him  that  I  was  not  at  the  front,  and 
any^vay  that  I  would  not  take  orders  from  the  Kaiser, 
not  being  accredited  to  his  country.  Then  I  sent  the 
telegram  through  the  Bulgarian  secretary,  and  received 
an  answer  in  a  few  days. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  Germans  after  occupymg 
Bucharest  was  to  remove  all  the  telephones.  They 
then  strung  their  own  wires  and  installed  instruments 
only  where  they  wished  them.  My  telephone  and 
that  of  the  Holland  Minister  were  allowed  to  remain. 

The  Germans  took  over  all  the  first  and  second  class 
hotels  and  restaurants  at  once,  and  the  public  was  allowed 
only  in  those  of  lower  grade.  I  was  invited  to  eat  with  the 
Germans  in  the  Casino,  but  I  cpuld  not  accept  because  of 
my  neutrality.  My  staff  and  I  were  accorded  the  freedom 
of  all  the  restaurants.  It  was  the  custom  of  the  officers 
and  soldiers  at  first  to  order  what  they  chose  in  the  res- 
taurants, cafes  and  stores,  and  to  make  no  payment. 
The  proprietors  protested  to  me  and  I  arranged  with  the 
governor  that  each  soldier  should  leave  a  written  acknowl- 
edgment of  his  debt. 

The  first  few  days  the  restaurants  were  ordered  to 


At  the  Baths  in  Tekirkial 


Bulgarian  Beauties 


BUCHAREST  TAKEN  BY  CENTRAL  POWERS     111 

serve  everything  they  had  to  the  officers,  but  as  the  sup- 
plies soon  ran  low,  it  was  then  ordered  that  only  one  kind 
of  meat  should  be  served,  and  each  person  was  required 
to  give  a  certificate  for  what  he  was  served. 

In  a  short  time  I  had  a  disagreement  with  the  Ger- 
man police,  but  in  the  end  had  my  own  way.  I  had  been 
issuing  passports,  with  the  consent  of  the  Roumanian 
authorities,  to  the  Germans  and  Turks,  whose  countries 
I  represented,  in  exchange  for  the  passports  of  their 
countries,  and  when  the  Germans  took  possession  of  Bu- 
charest, I  asked  the  governor  for  similar  authority  in 
behalf  of  the  subjects  of  the  other  countries  I  represented. 
After  examining  the  form,  he  gave  consent,  but  stipulated 
that  I  show  the  form  to  the  captain  of  police,  who  was 
known  to  have  been  very  cruel  in  Belgium.  When  I 
showed  the  form  to  the  captain,  he  said,  "Mr.  Minister, 
you  will  not  make  out  any  passports,  I  will  do  it  myself." 
I  answered,  **  I  did  not  come  here  to  ask  you  for  any  ad- 
vice or  instructions.  I  arranged  with  the  governor  as 
to  what  is  to  be  done,  and  I  stopped  here  at  his  request, 
merely  to  show  you  what  will  be  done." 

The  next  day  he  telephoned  that  he  was  coming  to 
see  me.  I  began  immediately  to  make  out  passports 
and  issue  them,  and  continued  to  do  so.  He  made  no 
further  attempt  to  interfere  with  me,  and  in  a  few  days 
he  was  sent  away  from  Bucharest. 

The  subjects  of  the  other  countries  were  in  line  daily 
at  the  Legation  to  procure  passports.  Frequently  those 
who  were  found  without  them  on  the  streets  were  arrested, 
and  as  they  were  shifted  from  one  jail  to  another,  it  was 
then  difficult  to  locate  them.  Therefore  men  sometimes 
fought  for  precedence  in  the  line.  One  morning  I  saw 
a  man  about  seventy-five  years  old  pushed  from  the 

8 


112  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

line  and  knocked  down.  I  went  out  immediately  and 
announced  that  because  of  that  action  I  would  issue  no 
passports  that  day  except  to  that  one  old  man.  The 
punishment  was  severe  for  the  rest  of  them,  but  there- 
after no  more  rough  conduct  occurred. 

Mr.  Marghiloman,  who  remained  in  Bucharest  as 
head  of  the  Roumanian  Red  Cross,  was  also  known  as 
one  of  the  leading  pro-Germans,  but  he  had  to  ask  my 
assistance  in  procuring  the  release  of  some  people  who 
had  been  arrested.  We  secured  the  discharge  of  some 
of  them,  but  the  others  were  interned  for  eleven  days. 
When  I  protested  to  the  governor,  he  said  it  was  only 
retaliation  for  similar  acts  on  the  part  of  the  Roumanians. 
And  this  I  knew  was  the  truth,  as  many  people  were 
imprisoned  for  a  short  time,  and  those  known  to  be  very 
antagonistic  to  the  Central  Powers  were  sent  to  Bulgaria 
and  Germany,  and  there  interned. 

One  day.  Princess  Bibesco,  who  was  in  charge  of  a 
Roumanian  hospital,  came  to  me  in  great  alarm,  stating 
that  some  valuables  belonging  to  a  German  soldier 
patient  had  disappeared  in  the  night  and  she  feared  the 
consequences.  I  went  with  her  to  the  German  hospital 
management  and  reported  the  matter,  asking  an  investi- 
gation, and  fortunately  it  was  discovered  that  a  German 
attendant  was  the  thief. 

Princess  Cantacuzene  was  in  charge  of  a  hospital 
with  over  four  hundred  patients,  and  was  unable  to  get 
fuel  or  a  sufficient  supply  of  food,  and  the  patients  were 
in  great  distress.  As  her  appeals  to  the  German  authori- 
ties were  ignored,  she  indulged  in  some  very  plain  talk 
which  was  reported  to  German  headquarters,  and  in 
consequence  she  was  ordered  to  remain  at  home  forty- 
eight  hours  as  a  punishment. 


BUCHAREST  TAKEN  BY  CENTRAL  POWERS  113 

The  Roumanians  complained  that  the  Germans  took 
everything  they  desired  for  their  own  use,  and  did  not 
hesitate  to  deprive  the  poor  of  all  they  possessed,  even 
leaving  them  without  food  or  the  means  to  procure  it. 
They  certainly  took  all  the  wines  and  delicacies  from 
the  homes  of  the  well-to-do.  It  was  also  charged  that 
horses  had  been  stabled  in  Roumanian  churches,  but  I 
know  of  no  proof  of  such  accusation.  The  royal  palaces 
were  not  disturbed,  and  I  was  told  this  was  due  to  respect 
for  former  King  Carol,  who  was  a  friend  to  Germany. 

Under  the  German  rule,  the  old  mayor,  Mr.  Petrescu, 
was  retired,  and  Colonel  Verzea  appointed  in  his  place. 
Also,  eleven  members  of  the  council  were  removed  and 
eleven  friends  of  the  Germans  substituted.  The  Jews 
had  expected  representation  in  the  new  council,  but  in 
this  they  were  disappointed. 

Before  the  entrance  of  the  Germans,  all  the  wounded 
Roumanian  soldiers  who  could  be  moved  were  sent  to 
other  places  in  Moldavia,  but  many  badly  wounded 
were  left  behind.  Nearly  all  the  Roumanian  doctors 
had  gone  into  the  army,  so  that  very  few  remained.  In 
one  of  the  hospitals  there  were  300  wounded  men  under 
the  care  of  Doctor  Bayne  of  Washington,  who  worked 
tirelessly  day  and  night.  He  remained  in  Bucharest 
up  to  June,  1918,  and  I  spoke  to  the  queen  and  the 
Prime  Minister  of  his  work,  and  he  received  a  high 
decoration  from  the  King,  for  distinguished  services. 

The  nurses  and  attendants  in  Doctor  Bayne's  hospital 
were  fearful  that  they  would  be  imprisoned  by  the 
Germans,  and  I  was  obliged  to  give  a  personal  guarantee 
that  they  would  not  be  molested  if  they  remained  at 
their  posts. 

Among  the  prominent  people  in  Bucharest  during 


114  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

the  German  occupation  were  Messrs.  Peter  Carp  and 
Alexander  Marghiloman,  and  also  some  officers  in  the 
Roumanian  army,  all  of  whom  turned  out  to  be  German 
sympathizers.  Among  them  was  Prince  Sturdza,  who 
had  been  sentenced  to  death  by  the  Roumanian  military 
court  in  Jassy  because  of  a  plot  to  entrap  the  Roumanian 
army  and  compel  its  surrender.  He  was  the  son-in-law 
of  Mr.  Peter  Carp,  and  under  the  administration  ap- 
pointed by  the  Germans  he  was  allowed  to  escape  to 
Germany. 

During  the  war,  many  American  colored  men  passed 
thi'ough  the  Balkan  states,  traveling  from  one  country 
to  another  and  giving  entertainments.  Groups  of  from 
four  to  ten  came  to  the  Legation  in  Bucharest  and  asked 
me  to  help  them  to  get  to  Russia,  where  they  could  earn 
more  money.  Being  so  many  of  them,  I  required  that 
all  should  demonstrate  to  me  what  kind  of  entertainment 
they  could  provide.  In  one  case,  two  of  them  who  were 
standing  close  to  me  when  the  question  was  asked, 
made  a  lightning  change,  and  within  a  minute  they 
appeared  as  camels.  Another  set,  who  were  v/aiting 
for  passports,  I  asked  to  sing,  and  they  rendered  **My 
Old  Kentucky  Home"  so  well  that  I  not  only  granted 
them  permission  to  go,  but  advanced  money  for  their 
expenses  as  well.  I  made  a  number  of  similar  loans, 
but,  unfortunately  for  me,  not  one  has  ever  been  repaid. 


Monuments  on  Tombs  op  Serbian  Soldiers 


BlHfcr- 

^ 

^HB 

.1 

^^^J 

Monuments  to  Serbian  Soldiers  Who  Fell  on  the 
Battlefield,  Erected  in  their  X'illages 


CHAPTER  XIII 

AN  AMERICAN  REPORTER'S  VIEWS  — THE  AMERICAN 
LEGATION  OUSTED 

THE  Germans,  during  the  occupation  of  Walachia, 
made  themselves  fully  at  home  there.  They  printed 
and  put  into  circulation  2,200,000,000  lei,  Roumanian 
currency,  and  thereby  created  an  indebtedness  for  Rou- 
mania,  which  they  had  no  right  to  do.  With  this  money 
they  paid  the  different  bills  of  their  government. 

When  the  Germans  took  possession  of  Bucharest, 
their  troops  brought  with  them  the  German  people 
interned  in  different  places  in  Roumania,  whom  the 
Roumanians  could  not  take  along  to  Moldavia,  also 
many  German  refugees  from  Transylvania,  and  then 
they  established  public  kitchens  for  them.  In  these 
places  they  served  good  food,  especially  pork  and  beans. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  poor  Roumanian  women, 
wives  of  the  soldiers  who  were  with  the  Roumanian  army 
in  Moldavia,  and  their  children,  were  in  a  veiy  bad 
position.  No  money  was  left  for  their  support  and 
nothing  could  be  bought  in  the  open  market  for  their 
relief.  There  was  only  one  public  kitchen  opened,  with 
the  help  of  the  Roumanian  Red  Cross,  but  it  was  very 
small  and  gave  relief  only  to  very  few.  I  tried  to  better 
the  conditions  of  these  people,  of  which  daily  there 
were  about  five  to  six  thousand  in  the  street  opposite 
the  Legation,  asking  for  support.  I  made  some  ten  per 
cent  of  these  women,  about  six  hundred  of  them,  sign 
a  petition  to  the  mayor  of  the  city,  asking  for  help. 
I  then  wrote  a  letter  to  the  new  mayor,  and  asked  him  to 
let  me  know  whether  he  would  take  care  of  these  people 

115 


116  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

or  not,  or  if  there  was  any  money  left  for  their  support. 
I  never  received  any  answer  to  my  letter,  but  a  few 
days  after,  I  read  in  the  German  paper,  the  only  one 
which  was  published  in  Bucharest,  that  all  these  women 
who  signed  the  petition  in  the  American  Legation  received 
thirteen  francs  each,  and  those  who  did  not  sign  received 
only  three  francs.  From  that  time  on  all  the  women 
wanted  to  sign  a  petition,  and  that  certainly  was  not 
very  pleasant  for  me. 

I  telegraphed  to  the  Roumanian  government  in 
Jassy  to  send  a  few  million  lei  to  the  National  Bank  of 
Roumania  in  Bucharest,  but  received  no  answer.  Prob- 
ably the  message  was  not  delivered.  Then  I  applied  to 
America,  asking  that  the  Swiss  Red  Cross  visit  Bucharest 
and  work  there. 

When  the  Germans  arrived  at  Bucharest,  there  was 
neither  wood  nor  coal  anywhere,  and  one  can  imagine 
how  the  people  lived  and  suffered,  as  they  had  no  fuel 
to  prepare  their  meals.  I  remember  one  case  when  a 
Turkish  lady  gave  birth  to  a  baby.  As  she  had  no  coal, 
her  neighbors  came  to  me  and  asked  me  to  provide 
wood  and  milk  for  the  baby,  which  I  gladly  did  out 
of  my  small  supply. 

The  first  American  reporter  to  visit  Bucharest  with 
the  German  troops,  sent  the  following  to  his  newspaper 
in  America: 

"  Our  flag  floats  over  six  Legations  here,  and  the  Ameri- 
can Minister,  with  his  staff  of  twenty  clerks,  is  the  busiest 
man  in  Bucharest.  When  Roumania  declared  war,  and 
later,  at  the  capture  of  Roumania  by  the  Germans,  com- 
pelling the  diplomatic  and  consular  representatives  of 
the  various  warring  powers  to  leave  the  city,  most  of 
them  entrusted  the  interests  of  their  countries  to  Mr. 


AN  AMERICAN   REPORTER'S  VIEWS  117 

Vopicka,  with  the  result  that  to-day  he  is  looking  after 
the  affairs  of  eight  nations,  including  his  own. 

"Germany  and  Turkey  said  to  him,  'Kindly  take 
charge  of  our  affairs,'  when  they  made  their  hurried  exit 
from  Roumania  at  the  end  of  August,  1916.  England, 
Russia,  Italy  and  Serbia  said  the  same  when  the 
Roumanian  government  fled  to  Jassy  at  the  threat  of 
von  Mackensen's  approach  to  Bucharest.  Roumania 
herself  also  requested  his  good  offices  in  the  matter  of 
numerous  details  as  to  which  she  felt  he  might  profitably 
intervene  with  the  conqueror.  The  result  is  that  our 
flag  is  the  best  known  in  Bucharest,  and  for  more  than 
a  week  after  the  German  entry,  it  floated  over  the 
entrance  of  the  ornate  building  of  the  German  Legation 
in  the  Galea  Victoriei.  Then  the  Germans  got  them- 
selves adjusted,  thanked  Vopicka  and  took  charge  of 
their  own  affairs. 

**'I  think  my  neutrality  is  pretty  well  established,' 
he  said  to  the  'Tribune'  to-day.  Tor  of  the  seven  countries 
I  have  been  representing  of  late,  five  are  at  war  with  the 
other  two.' 

**  Furthermore,  the  Portuguese,  the  Argentinians,  the 
Japanese,  the  Chinese  and  men  of  other  nations  which 
have  no  diplomatic  or  consular  representatives  in  Bucha- 
rest, come  to  Vopicka  with  troubles.  The  Jews,  whose 
troubles  are,  as  usual,  numerous,  regard  him  as  a  father. 
Roumanian  washwomen  who  cannot  obtain  coal  from 
the  authorities  of  their  own  city,  turn  to  Vopicka  and 
demand  coal  not  as  a  favor  but  as  a  right. 

"I  was  sitting  in  the  Legation  when  one  of  these 
requests  came  in.  A  legation  clerk  laid  it  before  the 
minister  with  the  remark  that  the  woman's  request  did 
not  seem  justified  in  view  of  the  supply  she  had  already 


118  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

received.  'Yes,'  said  the  minister,  'if  she  is  not  lying 
now,  she  lied  the  first  time.'  'Possibly  both  times,' 
said  the  clerk.  'Nevertheless,'  said  the  Minister,  'give 
her  the  coal.' 

"With  his  motto  of  *No  monkey  business,'  the 
Chicagoan  has  probably  been  more  useful  in  these  times 
than  any  other  diplomat  in  the  Balkans.  His  line  of 
conduct  has  been  simple  and  direct,  and  in  the  most 
distracting  times  and  among  the  most  devious  people  in 
the  world,  simplicity  and  directness  have  carried  him 
through.  Two  principles  have  guided  him,  and  he  voiced 
them  to  me  in  these  words:  'They  must  first  look  up  to 
your  countiy,  and  then  they  must  respect  you.'  The 
other  principle:  'You  must  be  firm  and  do  justice  to  all, 
and  stand  by  in  every  complication  and  with  every 
nationality. 

"'We  have  tried  to  remember  that  in  this  Legation, 
and  that  is  why  Germans,  Russians,  Jews,  Portuguese, 
Chinese  and  Japanese  have  passed  with  equal  confidence 
the  flag  that  hangs  over  our  doors.'" 

After  about  six  weeks,  the  Germans  thought  that 
their  purpose  would  be  best  served  if  there  was  no  foreign 
representative  in  Bucharest,  and  on  the  eleventh  day  of 
January,  1917,  I  received  a  communication  from  the 
von  Mackensen  government  that  I  was  recalled  by  my 
government,  that  a  diplomatic  train  would  be  ready  for 
me  in  two  days,  and  that  I  should  give  the  number  of 
persons  and  also  the  amount  of  baggage  I  wished  to  take 
with  me. 

The  first  trouble  I  had  with  the  von  Mackensen 
government  was  when  they  opened  the  Russian  Consulate 
which  was  under  care  of  our  Legation  and  on  whose 
doors  were  fixed  our  seals.  I  therefore  sent  a  letter  to 
the  German  military  government  as  follows: 


Fortress' HoTiN  in  Bessarabia  (Fifteenth  Century) 


German  Prisoners  in  Roumania 


AN  AMERICAN   REPORTER'S   VIEWS  119 

Bucharest,  Jan.  2,  1917  * 

I  have  just  been  informed  that  the  guardian  of  the  Russian 
consulate,  Vasile  Jacovilew,  was  arrested  yesterday,  January  1, 
at  3  o'clock,  and  that  the  seals  at  the  two  back  entrances  of  the 
Consulate,  which  were  put  there  by  the  American  Legation,  have 
been  tampered  with,  as  I  have  personally  ascertained.  Further- 
more, the  seals  of  the  German  government  were  put  on  the 
front  entrance  across  those  of  the  American  Legation. 

I  am  further  informed  that  four  officers  and  one  civilian 
entered  the  building  of  the  Russian  Consulate,  today,  the  2d  of 
January,  at  about  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  in  order  to  seal  the 
rooms,  which  were  already  sealed  with  the  seals  of  this  Legation, 
with  those  of  the  Gennan  government. 

I  am  therefore  taking  the  liberty  to  protest  against  this  pro- 
cedure, which  is  against  all  international  agreements  and  without 
precedent,  and  I  would  therefore  be  very  grateful  to  the  Imperial 
German  Government  if  it  would  kindly  furnish  me  with  the 
reason  for  this  action  in  order  to  enable  me  to  inform  my  govern- 
ment regarding  this  case. 

I  am  further  taking  the  liberty  of  asking  that  Vasile  Jacovilew 
be  set  at  liberty — this  man  is  now  in  the  employ  of  the  American 
Legation — in  order  to  enable  him  to  look  after  the  building  of 
the  Russian  Consulate  as  heretofore. 

I  beg  the  Imperial  German  Government  to  accept  the  assur- 
ances of  my  highest  esteem. 
American  Minister. 

*(Ongmal) 

BuKAREST,  den  2  Januar,  1917 

Ich  werde  soeben  davon  verstaendigt,  dass  der  Hueter  des  russischen 
Konsulats,  Vasile  Jacovilew,  gestern  Montag  den  1  Januar  um  3  uhr  nach- 
mittags  verhaftet  wurde,  und  dass,  wie  ich  mich  persoenlich  ueberzeugen  konnte, 
die  Siegel  der  amerikanischen  Gesandtschaft,  die  an  den  beiden  rueckwaertigen 
Eingaengen  des  russischen  Konsulats  angebracht  waren,  verletzt  worden  sind, 
und  ferner  das  der  Haupteingang,  der  ebenfalls  mit  dem  Siegel  dieser  Gesandt- 
schaft versehen  war  ausserdem  noch  mit  dem  Siegel  des  kaiserlich  deutschen 
Gouvernements  versehen  wurde. 

Es  begaben  sich,  wie  ich  ferner  verstaendigt  werde,  heute  den  2  Januar 
gegen  8  Uhr  morgens,  4  OfBziere  und  ein  Zivilist  in  das  Gebaeude  des  russischen 
Konsulats  um  die  Innenraeumlichkeiten,  die  bereits  die  Siegel  dieser  Gesandt- 
schaft tragen,  auch  mil  den  Siegeln  des  kaiserlich  deutschen  Gouvernements 
zu  versehen. 

Ich  erlaube  mir  nunmehr  ergebenst  gegen  dieses  Vorgehen  zu  protestieren, 
welches  gegen  alle  internationalen  Vereinbarungen  ist  und  ohne  Prezedensfall 


120  SECRETS  OF  THE   BALKANS 

On  January  8  I  received  the  following  answer:* 

Kaiser  I.     Government 

of  the 

Fortress  of  Bucharest. 

Political  Division 

No.  1064.  Bucharest,  January  8,  1917. 

Your  Excellency  is  hereby  notified  by  the  Imperial  Government 
that  the  Russian  Consulate  is  sealed  by  the  secret  field  police  of 
O.  K.  M.  and  therefore  stands  under  German  protection. 

To  inform  your  Excellency  if  and  why  the  rooms  of  the 
Consulate  were  searched,  the  Commander-in-chief  must  decline. 

The  matter  of  the  liberation  of  the  Russian  subject,  Vasile 
Jacovilew,  will  be  decided  in  the  regular  way. 

For  the  Government, 
Chief  of  the  General  Staff, 
(Signed)  Freiherr  von  Stolzenberg, 

Lieut.-Col. 
To  His  Excellency 

The  American  Minister, 
Mr.  Vopicka. 


dasteht,  und  waere  dem  kaiserlich  deutschen  Gouvemement  sehr  dankbar, 
wenn  es  die  Guete  haben  wuerde,  mich  ueber  den  Grund  dieses  Vorgehens  auf- 
zuklaeren,  damit  ich  meinem  Gouvernement  die  noetigen  Informationen,  diesen 
Fall  betreffend,  zugehen  lassen  kann. 

Ich  erlaube  mir  auch  ergebenst  die  Freilassung  des  Vasile  Jacovilew  zu 
beantragen, — derselbe  steht  nunmehr  in  den  Diensten  der  amerikanischen 
Gesandtschaft — damit  er  nach  wie  vor  einen  Posten  als  Hueter  des  russischen 
Konsulats,  versehen  kann. 

Ich  bitte  das  kaiserlich  deutsche  Gouvernement  den  Ausdruck  meiner  vor- 
zueglichen  Hochachtung  entgegennehmen  zvC  wollen. 

Amerikanischer  Gesandter. 

*  {Original) 

Kaiser  I.  Gouvernement  der 
Feslung  Bukarest. 
Politische  Abteilung 
No.  1064. 

Bukarest,  den  8  Janucr,  1917. 

Eurer  Exzellenz  teilt  das  kaiserliche  Gouvernement  ergebenst  mit,  dass 
das  russische  Konsulat  von  der  geh  Feldpolizei  des  O.  K.  M.  versiegelt  ist  und 
damit  unter  deutschen  Schutze  steht. 


AN  AMERICAN    REPORTER'S  VIEWS  121 

On  the  10th  of  January  I  received  the  following:* 

Headquarters,  January  10, 1917. 

The  Foreign  Office  in  Berlin  announces  that  all  diplomatic 
representatives  of  the  neutral  States,  who  still  remain  in  Bucha- 
rest, are  recalled. 

For  the  departure  of  the  ministers,  their  families  and  their 
diplomatic  personnel,  the  Commander-in-chief  of  von  Mackensen's 
army  has  placed  special  cars  in  readiness  for  the  trip  by  way  of 
Budapest  to  Berlin  on  the  12th  or  13th  of  January. 

The  exact  hour  of  departure  will  be  announced  at  the  latest 
ten  hours  before  the  departure. 

The  Commander-in-chief  begs  you  to  give  an  approximate 
list  of  the  persons  who  will  leave,  and  how  much  space  is  neces- 
sary for  baggage.  . 

By  order  of  the  Commander- in-cmef, 

per  order 
Chief  Quartermaster, 
To  the  Minister  of  the  {Signed)  Heutsch, 

United  States  of  North  America,  Colonel. 

Mr.  Vopicka,  Bucharest. 


Eurer  Exzellenz  mitzuteilen,  ob  und  warum  in  Konsulats  Raeumen  Durch- 
suchungen  stattgefunden  haben,  lehnt  das  Oberkommando  ab. 

Ueber  die  Freilassung  des  nissisclien  Staatsangehoerigen  Vasile  Jacovilew 
wird  auf  dem  ordnungsmaessigen  Wege  entschieden  werden. 

Von  Seilen  des  Gouvernemenls, 

Der  Chef  des  Generalsiabs, 
Seiner  Exzellenz,  Freiherr  von  Stolzenberg 

dem  Amerikanischen  Gesandten,  Oberstleutenant. 

Herrn  Vopicka. 

*  (Original). 

Qherkommando  der  Heeresgruppe 
VON  Mackensen 

Po^-^'-'^'O-  Yi.Qv.,denl0januar,1917. 

Das  Auswaertige  Amt  Berlin  teilt  mit,  dass  alle  in  Bukarest  zunieckge- 
bliebenen  diplomatischen  Vertretungen  der  neutralen  Staaten  abberufen  sind. 

Fuer  die  Abreise  der  Herren  Gesandten,  ihrer  Angehoerigen  und  des  diplo- 
matischen Personal  stellt  das  Oberkommando  der  Heeresgruppe  v.  Mackensen 
am  12.  Oder  13.  Januar  Sonderwagen  zur  Reise  ueber  Budapest  nach  Berlin  bereit. 
Die  genaue  Abfahrtstunde  wird  spaetestens  10  Stunden  vor  der  Abfahrt  mit- 
geteilt. 


122  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

On  the  11th  of  January  I  received  the  following 
letter:* 

Headquarters,  January  11, 1917. 
For  the  door-keepers,  clerks  or  servants  left  in  the  Legations 
and  Consulates,  no  identification  cards  can  be  made  out  from 
here.     But  there  is  nothing  in  the  way  of  the  American  Legation 
giving  credentials  to  the  above  mentioned  persons. 

It  is  understood  that  after  the  departure  of  the  ministers  of 
the  neutral  countries,  the  protection  of  the  Legation  and  Consular 
buildings  will  be  taken  over  by  the  German  military  authorities. 

By  order  of  the  Commander-in-chief, 

per  order 

Chief  Quartermaster, 

(Signed)  Heutsch, 
To  the  Minister  of  the  United  States,  Colonel. 

Mr.  Vopicka,  Bucharest. 


Das  Oberkommando  bittet  umgehend  eine  namentliche  Liste  der  abrei- 

senden  Personen  einreichen  und  angeben  zu  wollen,  und  wieviel  Platz  ungefaehr 

fuer  Gepaeck  beansprucht  wird. 

Von  Seilen  des  Oberkommandos 

Im  Auftrage, 

An  aen  Herrn  Gesandten  der  Der  Oberquartiermeisler , 

Vereinigten  Staalen  von  Nordamerika,  Heutsch, 

Herrn  Vopicka,  Hochwohlgeboren,  Bukaresl.  Obersl. 

*  {Original). 

Oberkommando  der  Heeresgruppe 

VON  Mackensen 

Pol.  No.  3863. 

H.  Qu.,  den  11  Januar,  1917. 

Fuer  die  in  den  Gesandtschaften  und  Konsulaten  zurueckbleibenden  Thuer- 
hueter,  Angestellten  oder  Diener  koennen  von  hieraus  keine  Identifikations- 
karten  ausgestellt  werden.  Es  steht  aber  nichts  im  Wege,  dass  den  betreffenden 
Personen  Ausweise  der  amerikanischen  Gesandtschaft  in  die  Hand  gegeben 
werden. 

Es  ist  selbstverstaendlich,  dass  nach  der  Abreise  der  Herren  Gesandten  der 
neutralen  Staaten  der  Schutz  der  Gesandtschaften  und  Konsulatsgebaeude  von 
den  deutschen  Militaerbehoerden  wahrgenommen  wird. 

Von  Seiten  des  Oberkommandos, 
Im  Aiijtiage 
An  den  Herrn  Gesandten  der  Der  Oberquartiermeisler, 

Vereinigten  Staaten  von  Nordamerika,  Heutsch, 

Herrn  Vopicka,  Hochwohlgeboren,  Bukarest.  Oberst. 


Scene  at  a    Railway  Station   in  Serb 


lA 


RoiMAxiAx  Peasant  Bride  and  Groom 


AN  AMERICAN   REPORTER'S  VIEWS  123 

On  January  11,  1917, 1  sent  two  letters  to  the  German 
government.  In  answer  to  their  letter  of  the  10th,  I 
stated  that  I  had  received  no  notice  from  my  govern- 
ment that  I  was  recalled,  and  would  like  to  know  where 
the  von  Mackensen  government  had  received  the  infor- 
mation that  I  was  recalled.  I  stated  that  I  had  recently 
received  a  telegram,  in  which  not  a  single  mention  was 
made  about  my  revoke,  and  that  I  therefore  could  not 
comply  with  the  request  of  the  German  government 
to  leave  Bucharest,  and  that  if  I  was  obliged  to  leave, 
I  would  do  so  under  protest,  and  I  also  asked  that  all 
Americans  living  in  Bucharest  be  permitted  to  leave  with 
me.  I  asked  that  if  I  was  obliged  to  go,  the  trip  be  post- 
poned. I  received  in  reply  a  letter  dated  January  11,  as 
follows:* 

In  answer  to  your  letter  of  January  11,  the  following  explana- 
tion is  given : 

The  information  that  the  revocation  of  the  American  Minister 
had  been  ordered  was  transmitted  to  this  place  from  the  office  of 
the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  at  Berlin,  through  the  chief 
military  command. 

Prolongation  of  the  time  for  departure  is  impossible  on  account 
of  railroad  technicalities.  The  special  train  will  probably  leave 
on  January  13,  in  the  afternoon.  The  exact  departure  will  be 
announced. 

The  special  train  is  only  for  the  ministers  and  their  diplomatic 
personnel ;  no  place  is  reserved  for  other  persons.  The  departure 
of  American  families  will  be  possible  probably  in  February.  A 
special  announcement  will  be  made  at  the  proper  time  regard- 
ing the  transportation  of  civilians. 


*  {Original). 

Auf  das  Schreiben  vom  11  Januar  wird  ergebenst  folgendes  erwidert. 

Die  Mitteilung,  dass  die  Abbcrufung  des  Herrn  Amerikanischen  Gesandten 
von  Bukarest  ausgesprochen  ist,  ist  vom  Auswaertigen  Amt  Berlin  durch  die 
Oberste  Heeresleitung  hierher  uerbermittelt  worden. 

Eine  verlaengerung  dor  Zeit  zur  Abreise  ist  aus  eisenbahntechnischen 
Gruenden  nicht  moeglich.  Der  Sonderzug  wird  voraussichtlich  am  13  Januar 
nachmittags  abfahren.     Die  genaue  Abfahrszeit  wird  noch  mitgeteilt. 

Der  Sonderzug  ist  nur  fuer  die  Herrn  Gesandten  und  das  diplomatische 


124  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Chauffeur  Rudolph  Nagler  has  been  placed  on  the  list  of 
persons  who  will  leave. 

In  regard  to  the  matter  of  the  German  subjects,  German  depos- 
its and  German  valuables,  it  is  respectfully  asked  that  everything 
be  arranged  through  Rittmeister  Prince  Schaumburg-Lippe,  of 
the  political  department  of  the  Imperial  Government.* 

By  order  of  the  Chief  in  Command, 
The  Chief  Quartermaster, 
{Signed)  Heutsch, 
Colonel. 

I  could  do  nothing  else  but  leave  under  protest, 
especially  when  Prince  Schaumburg-Lippe  told  me  that 
if  I  did  not  leave,  I  would  not  be  recognized  as  minister 
after  the  departure  of  the  train. 


Personal  bestimmt;  fuer  andere  Personen  ist  kein  Platz  vorhanden.  Die  Abreise 
amerikanischer  Familien  wird  voraussichtlich  im  Februar  moeglich  sein.  Ueber 
den  Eisenbahnverkehr  der  Zivilbevoelkerung  erscheint  zur  gegebenen  Zeit  eine 
besondere  Bekanntmachung. 

Der  Chauffeur  Rudolf  Nagler  wurde  auf  die  Liste  der  abreisenden  Personen 
gesetzt. 

Wegen  der  Interessen  der  deutschen  Staatsangehoerigen,  deutscher  Depositen 
und  deutscher  Geldwerte  wird  ergebenst  gebeten,  das  Noetige  unmittelbar  mit 
der  politischen  Abteilung  des  Kaiserl.  Gouvernements,  Rittmeister  Prinz 
Schaumburg-Lippe,  erledigen  zu  woUen. 

Von  Seiten  des  Oberkommandos, 
Im  Aiijtrage, 
Der  Oberguartiermeisier, 
Heutsch, 
Oberst. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

BERLIN  ADMITS  BLUNDER  — BACK  TO  AMERICA  — 
RETURN  VIA  ORIENT  AND  RUSSIA 

AFTER  three  days'  traveling,  we  arrived  in  Berlin 
at  midnight.  There  was  only  one  cab  at  the  depot 
and  the  driver  was  very  drunk.  It  was  difficult  to 
get  him  to  take  us  to  the  hotel.  Mr.  Reinbaben,  former 
secretary  of  the  German  Legation  at  Bucharest,  awaited 
me  at  the  depot  and  handed  me  a  letter  from  the  sub- 
Secretary,  Herr  von  Bussche,  in  which  I  was  requested 
to  call  at  his  office  at  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning. 
I  tried  to  call  our  Ambassador,  Mr.  James  W.  Gerard, 
on  the  telephone,  but  he  had  retired. 

The  next  morning  I  went  to  the  office  of  Herr  von 
Bussche,  and  he  said  to  me:  "My  dear  colleague,  von 
Mackensen's  government  made  a  big  mistake;  you  are 
not  recalled." 

I  answered:  "I  am  sorry,  but  you  must  settle  this 
matter  with  my  government.  This  is  nothing  less  than 
kidnapping,  and  a  casus  belli.'' 

He  replied:  "We  do  not  want  you  to  take  it  that 
way.  As  you  have  done  so  much  for  the  Germans,  we 
do  not  want  you  to  be  in  any  way  dissatisfied  or  handi- 
capped.   We  want  to  give  you  full  satisfaction." 

He  told  me  that  the  von  Mackensen  government  had 
preferred  sixty-one  charges  against  me,  which  had  been 
telegraphed  to  Washington,  but  he  had  not  believed 
them,  and  he  stated  that  he  would  see  Ambassador 
Gerard  the  same  morning,  and  have  all  the  charges 
revoked,  so  there  would  be  nothing  against  me  when  I 

125 


126  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

arrived  in  America.  As  a  proof  of  his  friendly  feeling, 
he  invited  me  to  attend  the  christening  of  his  child,  born 
that  day.  I  accepted  the  invitation,  and  met  many 
prominent  Germans  at  the  ceremony. 

I  remained  in  Berlin  until  the  27th  of  January,  and 
received  many  visitors.  Most  of  them  wished  to  inquire 
about  their  relatives  and  friends  in  Roumania,  and 
particularly  those  who  were  prisoners  of  war  there. 
That  they  appreciated  my  actions  was  indicated  by  the 
number  of  gifts  of  flowers  sent  to  me  daily. 

During  my  stay  in  Berlin,  I  was  interviewed  by 
many  American,  German,  and  other  reporters.  Among 
the  former  was  Mr.  William  Bayard  Hale,  representing 
the  Hearst  newspapers  in  Germany,  who  was  living  at 
the  same  hotel  and  had  his  wife  and  children  with  him. 
I  had  brought  with  me  some  sugar  and  canned  milk, 
which  I  offered  to  him  on  my  departure.  I  thought  it 
only  a  trifle,  but  he,  having  been  living  in  Germany 
three  years,  prized  it  very  highly,  and  assured  me  that 
it  would  save  his  children.  In  traveling  during  the  war, 
it  was  necessap/  to  carry  food  supplies,  because  in  most 
places  nothing  could  be  bought,  no  matter  how  much 
money  might  be  offered.  In  this  respect,  diplomats 
fared  no  better  than  other  persons. 

At  the  embassy  in  Berlin,  many  letters  awaited  me, 
which  could  not  be  forwarded  to  Bucharest,  and  these 
I  answered  while  awaiting  the  leave  of  absence  I  had 
telegraphed  for  to  Washington.  On  my  departure,  ten 
persons  accompanied  me,  namely,  my  private  secretary, 
Mr.  Andrews,  and  my  clerk,  Miss  Palmer,  both  of  whom 
were  Americans,  one  Frenchman,  one  Bohemian,  three 
Roumanians  and  three  Englishmen,  all  of  whom  were 
working  in  the  Legation.    The  Berlin  police  ordered  the 


Turkish  Mosque  in  Skopelje  (Uskub),  Macedonia 


Talaci:  uv  the  Metropolitan  in  Cernovitz,  Bukowina 


BERLIN  ADMITS  BLUNDER  127 

Roumanians  to  remain  at  home  while  they  were  in 
the  city,  as  the  Germans  disliked  seeing  them  walking 
the  streets.  I  protested  against  this  order,  and  it  was 
rescinded,  but  they  were  required  to  report  at  the  police 
station  four  times  a  day,  so  they  had  little  opportunity 
to  stray  far  from  their  abodes. 

A  few  weeks  previous,  I  had  suggested  the  exchange 
of  Roumanian  and  German  prisoners,  which  was  agree- 
able to  both  governments,  but  owing  to  changed  con- 
ditions the  plan  could  not  be  carried  out.  While  in 
Berlin,  I  brought  the  matter  up  again  with  Mr.  Gerard 
and  Herr  von  Bussche,  and  later  on,  Mr.  Gerard  informed 
me  the  German  government  had  suggested  a  plan  whereby 
the  exchange  could  be  effected. 

Up  to  the  time  I  left  Germany  it  appeared  that  the 
Germans  did  not  anticipate  any  trouble  with  America 
in  the  near  future,  as  von  Bussche  gave  me  all  the  details 
of  the  proposed  exchange  of  prisoners  with  Roumania, 
and  asked  me  particularly  to  see  that  the  officers  were 
set  at  liberty  on  their  word  of  honor.  Ambassador 
Gerard  took  charge  of  all  my  correspondence,  evidently 
not  dreaming  that  he  also  would  be  obliged  to  leave 
Germany  in  about  a  week  after  my  departure,  which 
was  on  January  27.  Diplomatic  relations  were  broken 
off  February  4. 

My  passage  was  engaged  on  a  boat  sailing  from 
Copenhagen  February  8,  but  the  Scandinavian  steam- 
ship companies  did  not  wish  to  risk  sending  boats  through 
the  war  zone,  and  England  objected  to  their  going  any 
other  way.  At  the  request  of  our  State  Department, 
the  English  permitted  me  to  sail  on  any  boat  which 
would  take  me  to  the  United  States,  but  with  the  restric- 
tion that  I  could  be  accompanied  only  by  my  personnel 

9 


128  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

and  three  American  diplomats,  whose  names  were  given 
in  advance. 

On  March  1,  I  left  Copenhagen,  for  Malmo,  but 
arriving  there  I  found  there  would  be  no  regular  train 
for  Christiania  until  the  next  day,  which  delay  would 
probably  cause  me  to  miss  connection  with  the  boat. 
The  royal  train  was  in  the  depot,  and  I  had  a  telegram 
sent  asking  if  it  might  be  put  at  my  disposal.  Within  an 
hour  the  permission  was  received,  and  the  next  day  I 
arrived  in  Christiania  on  the  royal  train,  to  the  great 
astonishment  of  all  beholders,  including  our  minister  to 
Norway.  Then  I  boarded  a  small  freight  boat,  which 
landed  me  in  Halifax  in  fifteen  days. 

I  proceeded  immediately  to  Washington,  and  called 
at  once  on  President  Wilson.  I  stated  my  belief  that 
if  our  country  declared  war  with  Germany,  we  should 
at  the  same  time  proclaim  war  with  Austro-Hungary. 
The  President,  however,  seemed  to  put  faith  in  the  assur- 
ances he  had  received  of  the  friendly  feeling  of  the  Austro- 
Hungarians,  though  I  expressed  a  contrary  belief,  and  I 
advised  him  to  obtain  copies  of  Austro-Hungarian  news- 
papers from  the  date  he  had  demanded  satisfaction  for 
damages  to  Americans  on  a  ship  destroyed  by  an  Austrian 
submarine.  I  do  not  know  if  he  ever  received  these 
papers.  I  also  told  him  that  the  Allies  expected  that 
Austro-Hungary  would  be  included  in  the  declaration 
of  war.  He  thought  our  friends,  the  Slavs  of  that  coun- 
try, would  suffer  by  the  declaration,  though  I  claimed 
they  could  be  exempt. 

Being  urged  by  my  friends,  during  the  next  two 
months  I  made  some  forty  speeches  in  different  places, 
describing  the  existing  situation  in  European  countries, 
and  declaring  my  belief  that  our  country  should  enter 


BERLIN   ADMITS  BLUNDER  129 

the  war  on  the  side  of  the  Allies,  not  only  for  the  sake 
of  humanity,  but  for  our  own  protection  as  well,  and 
also  for  the  liberation  of  the  German  people  themselves 
from  militarism. 

After  three  months'  stay  in  the  United  States  I 
received  instructions  from  the  State  Department  to 
proceed  to  Jassy,  which  was  then  the  capital  of  Roumania. 
Although  this  city  could  be  reached  in  about  nine  hours' 
direct  travel  from  Bucharest,  I  could  not  have  gone 
that  way  after  the  German  occupation,  but  would  have 
had  to  come  to  America  and  make  the  trip  around  the 
world  in  order  to  get  there. 

Accompanied  by  my  two  private  secretaries  and 
forty  members  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  including 
eight  members  of  the  commission  and  eleven  nurses, 
we  sailed  from  Vancouver  to  Yokohama,  and  went 
from  there  to  Tokio.  There  we  were  met  by  our  charge 
d'affaires,  Mr.  Post  Wheeler,  and  later  I  had  a  long 
talk  with  the  Japanese  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs. 
We  remained  in  Tokio  six  days  and  were  very  much 
entertained.  Thence  we  went  by  special  train  to 
Zsuruga,  and  by  Russian  boat  to  Vladivostock.  I  never 
saw  anything  dirtier  than  that  boat.  My  cabin  had  been 
preempted  by  a  huge  colony  of  cockroaches,  and  con- 
sequently I  slept  on  the  deck,  most  of  our  company 
doing  the  same. 

Around  the  harbor  of  Vladivostock  there  were  great 
piles  of  merchandise  and  ammunition,  and  in  the  city 
streets  we  saw  about  three  hundred  large  wooden  boxes, 
which  we  ascertained  contained  automobiles  of  Ameri- 
can make  and  were  told  had  been  there  a  long  time. 
The  Russian  authorities  took  charge  of  us  on  the  trip 
from  there  to  Harbin.     It  was  August,  and  the  weather 


130  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

was  about  the  same  as  in  New  York  or  Chicago.  All 
across  Siberia  were  fields  of  wheat,  oats,  rye  and  barley, 
seemingly  without  end.  Twice  we  had  a  swim  in  Russian 
rivers,  and  whenever  we  had  a  stop  en  route  for  any 
length  of  time,  we  had  a  game  of  baseball.  I  think  we 
were  the  first  to  play  that  game  in  Siberia. 

Our  first  long  stop  was  at  Harbin,  in  Manchuria. 
This  city  is  only  about  fourteen  years  old,  but  numbers 
100,000  inhabitants.  It  is  dirty  beyond  description, 
but  business  conditions  are  excellent,  as  Siberia  affords 
a  market  for  a  vast  quantity  of  goods  of  every  descrip- 
tion. Human  life  has  little  value,  and  one  risks  robbery 
or  murder  by  remaining  outdoors  at  night.  American 
interests  are  very  ably  looked  after  by  Consul  Moser. 

At  the  depot  we  witnessed  a  Chinese  method  of 
loading  passengers.  Two  big  Chinamen  stood  on  the 
platform  and  literally  "chucked"  women  and  children 
through  the  windows  to  another  pair  inside,  and  the 
car  was  filled  in  a  jiffy.  As  no  one  was  injured,  it  was 
equal  to  a  movie  comedy.  After  the  loading  was  finished, 
all  the  Chinese  began  to  talk  at  once,  and  the  clatter  was 
like  the  gabbling  of  a  flock  of  excited  geese. 

At  Harbin  we  boarded  the  same  train  that  carried 
the  Russian  Czar  and  his  family  to  Jekaterinburg,  where 
they  were  later  murdered  by  the  Bolsheviki.  At  Omsk 
we  were  delayed  four  hours,  it  being  the  day  the  first 
Russian  republic  was  proclaimed,  and  the  new  citizens 
wished  to  confiscate  our  train.  But  when  it  was  explained 
to  them  it  would  be  very  unwise  to  interfere  with  **  Uncle 
Sam"  we  were  allowed  to  proceed. 

At  Moscow,  there  were  lines  of  people  in  many  of 
the  streets,  waiting  for  provisions  and  such  supplies  as 
were  obtainable,  just  as  we  had  seen  them  in  every 


Prince  Regent  Alexander  of  Serbia  in  Conference  with 
Officers  on  the  Battlefield 


Railway  Station  in  Serbia 


BERLIN  ADMITS  BLUNDER'  131 

Other  war-ridden  country.  Here  the  stores  were  almost 
bare  of  stocks,  and  not  even  any  desirable  furs  were  to 
be  had.  The  city  seemed  to  wear  a  sombre  look,  although 
there  were  many  beautiful  buildings,  chief  among  them 
the  world-famed  Kremlin.  Within  this  were  marvels 
of  furnishings,  rare  paintings  and  jewels  of  enormous 
value.  One  could  not  help  pondering  on  what  might 
have  been  the  condition  of  this  unhappy  country  if 
the  cost  of  all  these  had  been  used  for  the  education  of 
the  Russian  people. 

With  three  members  of  the  Red  Cross  I  went  on  to 
Petrograd,  where  we  were  met  by  Ambassador  David  R. 
Francis,  who  had  arranged  a  meeting  with  Prime  Minister 
Kerensky  on  the  following  Monday.  The  next  day  I 
met  Mr.  Masaryk,  now  President  of  Czecho-Slovakia, 
who  was  there  in  the  interest  of  his  country.  On  Sunday 
evening,  while  we  were  dining,  a  messenger  from  Kerensky 
arrived  with  the  information  for  Mr.  Masaryk  that 
General  Komiloff  's  offensive  had  started.  Our  Ambassa- 
dor was  not  made  aware  of  this  until  the  next  day  at 
eleven  o'clock,  when  I  told  him. 

That  Sunday  evening,  Mr.  Masaryk  was  my  guest 
at  the  opera.  At  about  11:30  a  French  officer  came  to 
our  box  and  said:  "Mr.  Minister,  the  shooting  will 
commence  at  twelve  o'clock.  Will  you  please  go  home 
now,  as  we  would  not  like  to  have  you  hurt."  So  I 
promptly  escorted  Mr.  Masaryk  to  my  automobile  and 
took  him  to  his  hotel,  and  proceeded  without  delay  to 
the  hotel  where  I  was  staying. 

The  Prime  Minister  was  so  much  occupied  with 
meetings  and  discussion  of  matters  of  grave  importance 
that  it  was  impossible  to  meet  him  that  day,  and  fearing 
that  the  Komiloff  action  might  lead  to  an  indefinite 
delay  in  Petrograd,  I  immediately  started  for  Jassy. 


CHAPTER  XV 

AT  JASSY,   TEMPORARY  CAPITAL  OF  ROUMANIA  — 
SANITATION  PROBLEMS  —  RUSSIAN 
OPPORTUNITY  LOST 

WE  arrived  in  Jassy  September  16,  1917,  and  were 
met  at  the  depot  by  a  delegation  headed  by 
Colonel  Bratiano.  All  around  the  depot  was  an  enor- 
mous crowd  of  people.  A  truly  royal  reception  was 
accorded  us,  and  we  were  deeply  affected  by  our 
welcome,  but  conditions  in  the  city  were  saddening. 
With  a  normal  population  of  90,000,  there  were  now 
over  300,000  refugees  seeking  aid  and  accommodation. 
The  military  government  had  taken  charge  and  was 
doing  everything  possible  to  relieve  the  distress. 

Roumania  was  now  feeling  the  full  extent  of  war's 
misery,  and  it  was  fully  exemplified  in  Jassy.  Typhus 
was  raging,  and  the  supply  of  medicaments  for  the  sick, 
and  for  the  wounded  soldiers,  was  very  meagre.  No 
meat  or  vegetables  were  to  be  had,  and  bread,  of  which 
there  was  very  little,  was  made  from  potatoes  with  any 
kind  of  grain  obtainable.  There  was  no  sugar,  and  no 
fuel  of  any  kind.  Soldiers  and  civilians  were  dying  by 
thousands. 

The  foreign  ministers  did  everything  in  their  power, 
but  they  could  only  partly  relieve  the  great  distress. 
Sufficient  food,  fuel  and  supplies  were  absolutely  unob- 
tainable at  any  price.  The  hospitals  were  overflowing. 
There  were  but  few  doctors,  and  the  scarcity  of  instru- 
ments, linen,  etc.,  was  deplorable. 

When  I  visited  the  hospitals,  the  sights  there,  partic- 
ularly in  the  one  in  charge  of  Princess  Elisabeth,  actually 

132 


AT  JASSY  133 

made  me  ill.  She  seemed  to  have  selected  the  worst 
cases  for  her  care  and  supervision.  The  queen  did 
everything  possible  to  aid  the  ministers  to  obtain  supplies. 
Her  palace  was  converted  into  a  workshop,  and  there 
the  finest  ladies  of  the  land  were  busy  day  and  night, 
knitting  socks  and  making  underwear  and  other  things 
of  which  the  army  was  greatly  in  need,  which  could 
not  be  obtained  otherwise. 

Killing  lice,  the  carriers  of  infectious  diseases,  was 
a  most  difficult  and  disagreeable  task,  but  one  of  the 
greatest  importance.  Sanitary  trains  were  established 
under  direction  of  Mrs.  Popp,  who  was  nobly  aided  by 
the  royal  family,  government  officials  and  the  ministers 
of  the  Allies.    Of  her  work,  Mrs.  Popp  says: 

"As  is  known,  filth,  disease  and  poverty  are  usually 
found  together  and  in  the  same  proportion.  Where 
cleansing  the  people  and  destroying  the  lice  is  required 
as  a  protection  against  the  spread  of  disease,  relief  from 
hunger  and  poverty  is  also  necessary. 

"A  bath  and  disinfecting  train  has  been  conducted 
by  me  for  the  Roumanian  Sanitary  Department.  It 
consists  of  fourteen  cars.  The  disinfector  is  a  converted 
oil  car,  and  will  contain  the  entire  clothing  of  two  hun- 
dred people  at  one  time,  disinfecting  articles  under  a 
pressure  of  two  atmospheres  of  steam.  The  bath  coach 
is  provided  with  sixty  douches.  At  each  end  of  this 
coach  is  a  set  of  two  cars,  one  for  undressing  and  the 
other  for  the  dressing  of  the  bathers.  One  car  is  also 
for  shaving  and  hair  cutting.  All  of  these  coaches  are 
connected  by  a  direct  passageway.  In  addition  there 
are  the  following:  one  first  class  coach  for  the  doctor, 
administrator,  and  three  nurses;  one  for  the  twenty- 
two  sanitarians  and  three  engineers;   one  kitchen,  one 


134  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

magazine,  two  tank  cars  for  water,  and  a  locomotive. 

''This  train  goes  from  station  to  station,  stopping 
from  one  to  a  few  days  at  each  place.  Here  we  get  in 
communication  with  the  military  and  with  civilians, 
and  with  their  assistance  and  that  of  the  police,  we 
encourage  the  people  to  come  and  bathe.  With  the 
aid  of  motor  cars  we  are  able  to  cover  a  continuous 
area  of  six  kilometers  on  each  side  of  the  railroad. 

"The  train  has  been  on  the  road  for  the  last  two 
months  and  is  doing  very  successful  work.  We  have 
had  the  hearty  support  of  the  railroad  authorities,  and 
of  both  the  civilian  and  military  authorities.  The 
people  have  responded  to  the  advantages  of  the  train 
much  more  readily  than  we  had  anticipated.  It  is  only 
in  this  way,  or  by  work  in  this  direction,  that  the  much 
dreaded  diseases  of  typhus  exanthematicus  and  inter- 
mittent fever  can  be  checked.  The  poor  people  are 
found  to  be  covered  with  lice  and  fleas,  and  have  almost 
no  opportunity  of  keeping  themselves  clean. 

"We  have  found  that  some  of  the  civilians  with 
whom  we  have  come  in  contact  are  greatly  in  need  of 
relief.  This  train  would  make  a  very  good  means  of 
distributing  clothing,  soap,  food  and  medical  aid  to  the 
people  requiring  them.  In  addition  we  already  have 
the  facilities  for  doing  this  work,  including  the  staff 
and  magazine  on  the  train,  and  we  come  into  contact 
with  hundreds  of  poverty  suffering  people  every  week, 
covering  quite  a  large  area  of  the  country." 

Mrs.  Popp  proposed  that  the  relief  work  on  the 
train  be  carried  out  by  the  combined  relief  units  of  the 
allied  countries,  France,  America,  England  and  Russia. 

Great  joy  was  felt  upon  the  arrival  in  Jassy,  with 
me,  of  the  American  Red  Cross  unit,  consisting  of  forty 


Vasil  Radoslavoff,  Pri.mh  Minister  of  Bulgaria 


AT  JASSY  135 

persons,  bringing  with  them  medicaments  and  supphes. 
The  shipload  of  similar  material,  however,  which  was 
promised  to  arrive  about  two  weeks  later,  failed  to 
appear.  After  many  weeks  of  disappointment,  Colonel 
Henry  W.  Anderson,  the  chairman,  sent  Captain  C.  T. 
Williams  to  Archangel  to  start  the  shipment  forward 
at  once,  and  at  the  same  time  to  buy  everything  else 
that  was  obtainable  in  Russia.  He  purchased  carloads 
of  fish  and  other  supplies,  which  were  a  great  help  to 
the  starving  Roumanians.  The  Red  Cross  started  two 
hospitals,  and  one  canteen  where  the  poor  received  food 
and  clothing. 

Members  of  the  Red  Cross  unit  comprised  American 
physicians  and  engineers,  and  experts  in  economics, 
sociology,  hygiene  and  sanitation,  and  their  advice  and 
assistance  were  invaluable  to  the  Roumanians.  They 
remained  in  Roumania  until  March  9,  1918,  when  the 
Germans  ordered  them  to  leave,  together  with  all  the 
missions  of  the  Allies. 

Among  the  members  of  the  American  Red  Cross 
sent  to  Roumania  was  Captain  Vladimir  Ledochowski, 
from  Baltimore,  a  Russian  nobleman  who  had  come  to 
America  and  married  the  daughter  of  the  Governor  of 
Maryland. 

It  was  easy  for  him  while  he  was  traveling  through 
Russia  with  his  unit  and  with  me,  but  when  he  stopped 
in  Russia  with  one  or  two  members  of  the  American 
Red  Cross,  he  had  difficulty  with  the  police  authorities, 
and  when  he  wanted  to  return  to  the  United  States 
with  the  commission  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  he 
found  he  could  not  do  so  without  a  passport  proving 
his  American  citizenship. 

He  asked  me  for  an  American  passport.     I  could  not 


136  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

give  it  to  him,  because  he  had  only  his  first  citizen  papers, 
but  seeing  that  my  action  meant  for  him  either  prison 
in  Russia  or  heaven  in  America,  where  he  could  again 
join  his  wife  and  child,  I  stretched  a  point,  and  on  a 
blank  of  an  America  passport  I  asked  that  he  be  allowed 
to  proceed  on  his  journey  to  America  as  a  member  of 
the  Red  Cross.  However,  when  he  came  to  Petrograd, 
the  American  consul  there  refused  to  vise  his  passport 
for  Russia,  and  the  son-in-law  of  Maryland's  governor 
had  to  stay  in  Petrograd  for  several  days  until  Major 
R.  G.  Perkins,  a  member  of  the  American  Commission, 
told  him  to  risk  it  and  go  on  with  them  without  the  vise, 
and  they  would  protect  him.  In  China  the  passport 
I  gave  him  without  consular  vise  was  satisfactory. 

Poor  Count!  His  property  in  Russia  was  confiscated 
by  the  Bolsheviki,  and  his  title  was  lost  when  he  became 
an  American  citizen,  but  he  is  happier  in  America  as  a 
simple  citizen  than  he  would  be  in  Russia  with  a  high 
title,  even  if  a  more  civilized  government  were  in  control 
there. 

During  the  Marghiloman  pro-German  administration, 
certain  newspapers  criticized  the  American  Red  Cross. 
One  paper,  ''Opinia,"  stated  that  the  American  Red 
Cross  had  sold  clothing  of  very  inferior  quality  to  the 
Roumanian  government,  for  a  huge  price,  and  a  second 
charge  was,  "The  Americans  have  not  delivered  us  goods 
until  after  we  have  paid  them  the  money,  some  three 
millions.  As  to  the  goods  delivered,  they  are  fit  only 
for  Hottentots.  The  fault  is  ours  and  not  the  Americans'. 
We  thought  they  were  soldiers  and  find  they  are  what 
they  have  always  been  —  merchants." 

I  at  once  sent  a  letter  branding  the  statements  as 
false,  and  giving  the  exact  facts,  which  were  that  the 


AT  JASSY  137 

American  Red  Cross  had  advanced  the  necessary  money 
to  the  Roumanian  commission  in  Russia  to  make  desired 
purchases,  and  that  later  this  amount  was  refunded  by 
the  Roumanian  government.  The  contemptible  efforts 
of  the  pro-Germans  were  rendered  harmless,  and  to  this 
day  all  Roumania  is  grateful  to  the  American  Red  Cross 
for  its  splendid  and  heroic  work,  and  to  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
workers  also,  who  performed  excellent  service  in  estab- 
lishing canteens  behind  the  front  for  supplying  the 
soldiers  with  tea  and  other  comforts. 

To  my  surprise,  the  king  advised  me  not  to  unpack 
my  trunks,  stating  that  we  might  have  to  move  to 
Russia  at  any  moment.  He  said  that  half  their  offices 
were  already  in  Kherson,  and  that  for  three  months 
Roumanians  had  been  sending  their  valuables  there. 
It  seemed  to  be  the  general  opinion  that  the  move 
would  have  to  be  made,  and  also  that  the  Russians 
would  leave  the  trenches  on  the  first  of  October.  As 
the  Russian  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  in  Roumania 
could  give  me  no  definite  information,  I  went  to  the 
front  for  it,  accompanied  by  Colonel  Yates,  with  two 
members  of  the  American  Red  Cross  and  several  others. 
My  main  object  was  to  talk  to  the  soldiers  and  try  to 
persuade  them  to  remain  at  their  posts,  in  order  to 
preserve  the  Russo-Roumanian  front  and  prevent  the 
withdrawal  of  Austro-German  soldiers  for  service  on 
the  Western  front. 

At  Galatz,  where  the  6th  Russian  army  was  located, 
we  were  cordially  received  by  the  civil  and  military 
authorities,  and  my  request  for  permission  to  address 
the  soldiers  was  granted  after  the  Soviet  Military  Com- 
mittee had  scanned  the  speech.  My  first  audience 
numbered  16,000  men,  and  they  received  my  speech 


138  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

SO  enthusiastically  that  I  was  asked  to  repeat  it  else- 
where. Next  day  I  addressed  the  Russian  soldiers  in 
the  trenches,  and  the  reserves  behind  the  front,  who 
showed  their  appreciation  by  taking  me  on  their  shoulders 
and  carrying  me  around  the  field.  During  the  perform- 
ance, a  bomb  exploded  within  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  feet  of  us!  Thereafter  we  spent  considerable  time  on 
the  road,  talking  to  the  Russian  troops.  From  time  to 
time  I  sent  reports  to  the  Minister  of  the  Interior,  who 
wrote  to  me  as  follows: 

My  dear  Mr.  Vopicka: 

It  is  with  the  greatest  satisfaction  that  I  read  your  letter 
today.  Your  success  on  the  Russian  front  in  Bukowina  had  al- 
ready been  made  known  to  me  by  my  prefect.  I  appreciate 
it  all  the  more  as  the  result  will  be  a  benefit  to  our  country,  as 
I  know  that,  aside  from  your  official  duty,  you  love  Roumania. 

(Signed)  Constantinescu. 

The  French  Minister  saw  that  my  speaking  tour 
had  a  good  influence  upon  the  Russian  soldiers,  and  he 
also  made  one  or  two  speeches  to  the  Russian  troops. 
Colonel  Yates  and  I  continued  our  speeches  until  the 
armistice  was  signed,  thereby  aiding  in  delaying  by  over 
two  months  the  intended  defection  of  the  Russian  troops. 

While  I  was  engaged  in  talking  to  the  Russian  sol- 
diers at  the  front  in  Roumania,  the  situation  in  Russia 
changed  very  much.  The  provisional  government  was 
overthrov/n  by  the  Bolsheviki,  whose  leaders  were  Len- 
ine  and  Trotsky.  Minister  Kerensky  had  to  flee.  The 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Russian  army  at  that  time, 
General  Doukonine,  was  murdered,  and  Krilenko,  the 
underoflicer,  was  made  commander-in-chief  by  Lenine 
and  Trotsky.  He  at  once  tried  to  make  a  proposal  to 
the  Germans  for  immediate  peace,  and  wanted  an  imme- 


< 
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O 


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o 

2 


AT  JASSY  139 

diate  armistice  with  the  enemy.     He  also  advised  the 
soldiers  to  rebel  against  the  officers  and  leave  the  front. 

One  can  imagine  how  hard  it  was  after  this  to  induce 
the  Russian  army  in  Roumania  to  stay  in  the  trenches 
against  the  order  of  the  chief  commander  of  the  Russian 
army.  General  Tcherbatcheff,  who  was  in  command  of 
the  Russian  army  in  Roumania,  believed  that  the  orders 
of  Krilenko  were  not  for  the  benefit  of  the  Allies  but  of 
the  Germans,  and  he  therefore  refused  to  recognize  the 
orders  of  the  new  Russian  regime,  and  commenced 
openly  to  fight  the  Bolshevik  idea. 

He  put  under  control  all  the  Bolshevik  committees 
in  Roumania,  and  those  Russian  soldiers  who  tried  to 
free  these  committees  were  disarmed  by  the  Roumanians. 
This  action  of  General  Tcherbatcheff  made  the  Bolshe- 
viki  his  enemies,  and  in  Jassy  they  actually  tried  to  kill 
him. 

Russian  troops,  along  different  parts  of  the  front, 
made  a  truce  with  the  Germans,  which  of  course  helped 
to  demoralize  this  army  still  more.  As  soon  as  the 
Russian  Bolsheviki  made  an  armistice  with  the  Germans, 
the  Roumanians  were  very  restless  and  frightened. 
They  demanded  from  us  (the  Allied  ministers)  consent 
also  to  make  an  armistice.  I  personally,  together  with 
the  American  military  attache.  Colonel  Yates,  was 
against  an  armistice  because  I  was  afraid  that  it  would 
bring  peace  between  the  Roumanians  and  the  Germans. 

The  Allied  ministers  asked  the  Roumanian  govern- 
ment to  wait  two  days,  until  they  received  instructions 
from  their  governments  as  to  whether  the  permission 
should  be  granted  to  the  Roumanians.  The  Prime 
Minister  promised  to  wait,  but  the  army  was  afraid  that 
if  they  waited,  the  Germans  might  make  an  attack  at 


140  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

any  time  and  destroy  them,  and  the  same  evening 
General  Prezan,  chief  of  the  Roumanian  staff,  signed 
the  armistice,  of  which  I  received  secret  information 
from  the  clerk  who  was  employed  in  the  office  of  the 
Russian  commander. 

The  Roumanian  government  urged  General  Tcher- 
batcheff  to  sign  with  them  at  the  same  time  for  the 
Russian  army  on  the  Roumanian  front.  This  was  done 
in  Focsani  and  this  action  was  approved  by  the  Allied 
ministers  only  to  protect  the  front. 

In  this  armistice,  the  Austro-Hungarians  and  the 
Germans  bound  themselves  not  to  remove  any  troops 
from  the  Roumanian  front.  This  was  done  in  order 
to  prevent  soldiers  being  sent  to  France. 

In  the  month  of  November,  the  king,  supported  by 
the  general  staff  and  the  chief  commandants  of  the 
armies,  was  in  favor  of  marching  with  his  army  to 
Russia.  He  purposed  to  establish  order  there,  to  fight 
the  Germans,  and  with  the  Cossacks  to  protect  the 
Siberian  railroad.  But  because  of  the  change  in  the 
Russian  situation  and  because  the  Allies  could  not 
guarantee  the  safe  conduct  of  the  royal  family  through 
Russia,  the  march  into  this  country  was  first  postponed 
and  then  abandoned.  From  the  beginning  of  December, 
conditions  in  Russia  changed  rapidly,  and  the  Allied 
ministers  had  their  hands  full  and  shouldered  responsi- 
bility beyond  comprehension. 

After  the  armistice  was  signed,  Russian  soldiers, 
from  different  parts  of  the  Roumanian  front,  left  the 
front  and  on  their  way  burned  houses,  feloniously 
assaulted  women,  and  devastated  the  country,  and  if 
it  had  not  been  for  the  firm  stand  of  General  Tcherbat- 
cheff,  to  whom  the  Roumanians  will  be  forever  indebted. 


AT  JASSY  141 

Roumania  might   have   fallen   into   the  hands  of  the 
Bolsheviki  and  the  royal  family  murdered. 

The  outlook  was  very  bad  for  the  Roumanians. 
The  Prime  Minister  at  that  time  was  ill,  and  the  four 
ministers,  Sir  George  Barclay,  Count  de  St.  Aulaire, 
Baron  Fasciotti  and  myself,  who  were  responsible  for 
all  the  interests  of  the  Allies,  were  obliged  to  go  to  his 
house  for  conferences  nearly  every  day. 

After  the  actions  of  the  Russian  soldiers,  the  people 
in  Roumania  became  very  much  alarmed  and  made  an 
appeal  to  their  government  that  something  radical  be 
done  at  once.  We  began  to  formulate  plans  to  stop 
their  barbaric  actions,  and  at  the  same  time  satisfy 
both  the  Roumanian  government  and  the  people.  In 
our  conference  each  of  us  suggested  a  certain  remedy. 
I  stated  that  leaving  the  front  in  the  manner  in  which 
it  was  done,  if  it  had  happened  in  America,  would  be 
resisted  either  by  the  police,  the  state  militia  or  the 
regular  army,  just  as  we  disperse  mobs.  I  gave  it  as 
my  opinion  that  if  a  small  division  of  20,000  or  25,000 
men  could  be  given  the  best  arms  and  tanks,  they  might 
solve  the  difficulty  which  was  now  prevailing  in  Roumania. 

My  colleagues  and  Mr.  Bratiano  were  in  favor  of 
police  protection.  We  recommended  it  to  the  Crown 
meeting  and  it  was  approved  by  General  Tcherbatcheff 
and  by  the  French  military  mission.  The  Crown  meet- 
ing approved,  and  three  days  after,  it  was  adopted  and 
put  in  force.  Prime  Minister  Bratiano,  full  of  smiles, 
reported  the  success  of  the  police  action  to  me.  This 
police  division  consisted  of  Roumanian  soldiers  with  a 
Russian  officer  in  command.  Of  course,  this  action 
brought  on  the  proclamation  of  war  by  the  Bolshevik 
government    against    Roumania,    and    in    consequence 


142  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

many  Roumanian  citizens  and  officers  were  detained  in 
Russia,  especially  those  in  Odessa,  and  it  also  occasioned 
the  arrest  of  the  Roumanian  Minister  in  Petrograd. 

After  the  armistice  was  proclaimed,  many  officers  in 
the  Russian  army  in  Roumania  wanted  to  enlist  in  the 
American  army,  and  the  office  of  our  military  attache 
received  several  thousand  applications  not  only  from 
officers,  but  also  from  Russian  soldiers. 

Our  government  at  that  time  was  interested  in  estab- 
lishing order  in  Ukrainia,  and  I  was  of  the  opinion  that 
there  was  a  chance  of  obtaining  enough  soldiers,  prob- 
ably 200,000  of  them,  to  effect  it.  I  therefore  tele- 
graphed to  my  government,  asking  authority  to  draw 
$50,000,000  as  a  fund  for  maintaining  these  soldiers,  if 
the  government  was  willing  to  engage  them. 

These  officers  and  men  were  satisfied  with  five  to 
seven  rubles  a  day.  They  did  not  want  to  enlist  in  the 
French  or  English  army  because  of  prejudices,  but  they 
were  very  anxious  to  join  the  American  army.  My 
colleagues,  the  Ministers  of  the  Entente,  were  satisfied 
with  the  plan  and  recommended  the  adoption  of  it  to 
their  respective,  governments. 

These  Russian  officers  and  soldiers  wanted  to  have  an 
answer  as  soon  as  possible,  and  I  expected  that  if  I 
received  an  answer  within  tv/o  weeks,  the  plan  could  be 
accomplished,  as  it  was  hard  to  keep  the  Russians  in  the 
front  longer  than  that.  To  my  sorrow,  the  answer  did 
not  arrive  until  four  weeks  later,  and  then  it  was  too  late 
for  any  action. 

Our  government  approved  of  the  plan,  and  notified 
me  that  the  English  military  attache  or  the  minister 
would  furnish  the  money  necessary,  and  that  our  mili- 
tary attache  would  be  in  charge  of  this  new  army. 


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Ph 


AT  JASSY  143 

If  this  American  army  of  200,000  men  could  have 
operated,  Ukrainia  might  have  been  saved  from  Bolshe- 
vism, and  the  Bolshevik  government  itself  might  have 
been  overthrown. 


10 


CHAPTER  XVI 

RUSSIAN    REVOLUTION    DISRUPTS    PLANS    AND    DEPRIVES 
ROUMANIA  OF  ASSISTANCE 

WHEN  I  came  to  Jassy,  I  learned  that  the  Slavs 
who  had  been  interned  and  released  in  Bucharest, 
had  been  interned  again  by  mistake  in  Moldavia.  I  at 
once  secured  their  release,  but  that  was  not  the  end  of 
it,  as  they  were  all  destitute.  Work  was  obtained  for 
as  many  as  possible,  and  some  were  sent  to  their  homes, 
but  the  remainder  I  had  to  support  until  they  could 
take  care  of  themselves,  and  that  was  a  long  time  for 
some  of  them.  When  the  Roumanians  were  obliged  to 
retreat  to  Moldavia  in  December,  1916,  an  appeal  was 
sent  to  Russia  for  sufficient  troops  to  save  Moldavia. 
The  Russians  came  in  great  numbers,  but  they  were 
not  given  so  hearty  a  welcome  by  the  Roumanians  there 
as  they  should  have  received.  In  1917  there  were  1,100,- 
000  Russians  there,  and  they  were  occupying  the  entire 
Moldavian  front.  After  the  capture  of  Bucharest,  the 
Germans  expected  to  conquer  the  remainder  of  Roumania 
in  eleven  days,  but  the  combined  Russian  and  Rou- 
manian army  was  able  to  hold  the  Moldavian  front. 

In  March,  1917,  the  Russian  revolution  broke  out, 
and  this  operated  much  to  Roumania's  disadvantage. 
While  the  German  attacks  were  growing  weaker,  the 
remainder  of  the  Roumanian  army  was  being  reorgan- 
ized by  French  instructors,  and  in  time  it  became  one 
of  the  best  fighting  organizations  in  Europe.  But  on 
the  other  hand,  the  Russian  troops  began  to  deteriorate. 
This  was  because  the  Petrograd  Workers  and  Soldiers 
Council,   acting   for   the   provisional   government,   had 

144 


RUSSIAN   REVOLUTION  145 

begun  what  they  called  the  democratization  of  the  army, 
which  was  actually  intended  to  discredit  the  high  com- 
mand and  the  officers  of  the  army,  and  place  the  real 
command  in  the  hands  of  the  Soldiers  Committee. 
The  Council  believed  the  success  or  downfall  of  the 
republic  depended  on  the  action  of  this  high  command, 
and  therefore  they  feared  it. 

The  commanders  on  the  fronts  had  been  urging  on 
General  Alexeieff,  the  commander-in-chief,  that  the  army 
be  divorced  from  politics,  and  that  the  anti-militarist 
and  pacific  propaganda  be  stopped,  lest  the  army  disin- 
tegrate. Opposing  this,  the  Workers  and  Soldiers  Coun- 
cil claimed  that  action  against  the  democratization  of 
the  army  was  treachery  to  the  revolutionary  cause. 

Minister  Kerensky  should  have  promptly  settled  this 
dispute,  but  he  declined  to  render  any  positive  decision, 
being  fearful  of  incurring  the  enmity  of  either  faction. 
In  fact,  he  signed  a  Declaration  of  Soldiers  Rights,  and 
abolished  capital  punishment  in  the  army,  which  acts 
sadly  crippled  the  high  command. 

The  Allies  were  urging  an  immediate  offensive  on 
the  part  of  the  Roumanians  and  Russians,  and  the 
Roumanian  command  decided  to  begin  on  the  first  of 
July,  with  half  the  combined  army  attacking  on  a  small 
front,  while  the  other  half  held  a  long  front.  The 
morale  of  the  Roumanian  troops  was  excellent,  and  that 
of  the  Russian  but  little  lowered  at  this  time.  In  a 
later  attack  near  Adjud,  the  Germans  were  routed,  but 
two  days  later  Minister  Kerensky  telegraphed  orders 
to  stop  all  offensive.  Following  this  there  were  minor 
engagements,  with  the  Roumanian- Russian  forces  mainly 
on  the  defensive,  but  at  Maracesti,  the  Roumanians, 
with  smaller  Russian  assistance,  defeated  General  von 


146  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Mackensen's  army  in  a  ten-day  engagement,  during 
which  about  eighty  thousand  men  on  each  side  were 
killed  or  wounded. 

It  is  claimed  that  there  was  a  disagreement  between 
General  von  Mackensen  and  his  staff  as  to  the  manner 
of  conducting  an  attack,  and  the  Kaiser  came  to  Rou- 
mania  to  decide  the  controversy.  He  supported  von 
Mackensen's  plans,  but  because  of  the  defeat  of  the 
Germans,  von  Mackensen  lost  prestige  and  remained 
in  Bucharest  without  further  activity.  This  was  the 
greatest  victory  of  the  war  for  the  Roumanian-Russian 
forces,  and  it  materially  weakened  the  forces  of  the 
Central  Powers. 

The  demoralization  of  the  Russian  army  made 
Roumania's  position  uncertain  and  insecure.  The  best 
that  could  be  done  was  to  try  to  keep  the  Russians  in 
place,  and  thereby  help  protect  the  Roumanian  front. 

The  ministers  of  the  allied  countries,  especially  the 
English,  French,  Italian  and  American,  were  placed  in 
a  very  difficult  and  delicate  position,  requiring  continual 
alertness  and  the  greatest  tact  and  patience,  in  order 
best  to  serve  the  interests  of  their  respective  countries, 
and  withal,  to  avoid  the  many  pitfalls  by  which  they 
were  surrounded.  It  was  also  our  duty,  as  far  as  diplo- 
matic usage  permitted,  to  protect  the  interests  of  Rou- 
mania,  to  which  country  we  were  accredited,  and  as 
conditions  were  constantly  changing,  the  situation  was 
extremely  complicated. 

It  was  my  custom  to  make  memoranda  of  all  impor- 
tant occurrences  and  new  conditions,  sometimes  supple- 
menting these  with  notations  of  cause  and  probable 
effect.  These  proved  of  inestimable  value,  enabling  an 
accurate   review   of  circumstances   leading   up   to   the 


French  Hospital  at  Vrnjanka  Baxja,  Serbia 


Arrival  of  Schlkpp  No.  229  Loaded  with  Flolr  for  the 
American  Red  Cross  ix  Belgrade 


RUSSIAN   REVOLUTION  147 

affairs  of  the  moment,  eliminating  the  possibility  of  omis- 
sion or  misconception  of  detail  through  lapse  or  fault  of 
memory^  and  thus  better  enabling  us  to  meet  emergencies 
or  contingencies  as  they  might  arise. 

The  gist  of  the  more  important  of  these  memoranda, 
together  with  necessary  explanations,  is  given  in  the 
following  pages.  In  this  manner,  there  is  presented  not 
alone  a  consecutive  record  of  events,  but  also  a  clearer 
revelation  of  the  difficulties  and  heartrending  conditions 
that  day  by  day  confronted  us.  Perhaps  the  reader  will 
share  our  daily  hopes  and  fears,  our  disappointments 
and  our  hard  earned  triumphs,  and  realize,  as  we  did, 
that  we  not  only  had  to  cope  with  the  perils  and  problems 
of  the  hour,  but  also  forecast  and  prepare  for  what  the 
morrow  might  bring  forth. 

{Dec.  2, 1917.)  We  have  learned  that  one  of  Lenine's 
officers  telephoned  to  General  Tcherbatcheff  an  offer 
of  the  General  Command  of  the  Russian  army,  stating 
that  a  cipher  telegram  had  been  received  by  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  Italian  army  in  Russia  to  the  effect 
that  the  Allies  did  not  object  to  a  separate  Russian  peace. 
The  general  declined  the  offer,  but  requested  that  we 
representatives  of  the  Allies  confirm  the  statement  made 
to  him  by  General  Berthelot,  of  the  French  Mission,  that 
this  telegram  appeared  to  be  spurious  and  was  abso- 
lutely contradictory  to  the  declared  policy  of  the  Allied 
governments. 

We  made  this  declaration  to  General  Tcherbatcheff, 
who  accepted  it,  and  we  have  urged  upon  him  the  neces- 
sity, according  to  information  received  by  us,  of  pre- 
cautions against  an  intended  attack  by  the  Bolsheviki, 
designed  to  dismpt  the  Roumanian  government,  destroy 


148  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

the  telegraph,  telephone  and  railroad  systems,  and 
violently  remove  the  royal  family  and  staff  and  the  foreign 
representatives. 

Measures  have  been  taken  by  the  Roumanian  staff 
to  repulse  this  attack,  but  in  order  that  it  may  have  no 
appearance  of  being  a  conflict  between  the  Russians  and 
Roumanians,  we  have  insisted  that  the  Russians  take 
part  in  the  defense.  General  Tcherbatcheff  has  assured 
us  this  will  be  done. 

During  the  conversation,  he  gave  us  his  personal  and 
confidential  advice  that  an  interallied  corps  should  imme- 
diately be  sent  to  Russia,  which  would  not  only  be  of 
material  assistance,  but  a  moral  force  which  would  have 
considerable  effect.  Our  experience  and  observation 
leads  us  to  endorse  this  opinion. 

{Dec.  3.)  The  Prime  Minister  advised  us  he  had  sent 
the  following  telegram  to  the  Roumanian  ministers  in 
allied  countries: 

"The  Maximalists  have  absolutely  overmastered  the 
two  northern  fronts  and  are  occupying  Stawka.  On 
the  Russian  fronts,  the  disintegration  of  the  army  is 
complete.  The  Russian  army  on  the  Roumanian  front 
made  armistice,  and  replaced  the  generals  by  lieutenants. 
General  Doukonine  went  to  Krilenko.  In  these  cir- 
cumstances. General  Tcherbatcheff  will  be  obliged  to 
give  his  place  to  a  Maximalist,  or  to  interfere  with  the 
conclusion  of  a  regular  armistice,  with  the  result  that 
the  same  will  last  until  a  legal  government,  chosen  by 
regular  election,  establishes  the  peace  conditions.  He 
thinks  this  would  be  the  only  means  by  which  he  could 
hold  the  front.  But  he  would  do  it  only  with  the  con- 
sent of  the  Allies.  In  this  matter  he  will  act  in  accord 
with  the  *  Rada'  and  as  commander  of  the  southwestern 


RUSSIAN  REVOLUTION  149 

and  Roumanian  fronts.  Any  other  attitude  on  the  part 
of  Roumania  will  transform  the  Russian  army  in  Moldavia 
into  a  million  enemies  led  by  the  Maximalists,  with 
Rakowski  as  representative,  and  make  it  impossible 
for  the  Roumanian  army  to  resist.  Resistance  would 
mean  destruction  for  us  without  benefit  for  our  allies, 
in  case  of  hostile  retreat  of  the  Russian  army  through 
Moldavia.  In  such  case  the  Allies  should  not  indulge 
in  illusions  regarding  Ukrainia  or  South  Russia,  which 
could  give  aid  only  as  long  as  a  Russian  front  exists." 

Mr.  Bratiano  says  General  Tcherbatcheff  desires 
immediate  answer,  failing  which  he  may  be  replaced  by 
a  commander  appointed  by  Krilenko.  In  order  to  gain 
time,  we  have  given  him  a  copy  of  the  following  statement: 

"The  undersigned,  not  having  the  necessary  authority 
to  make  promises  in  the  name  of  their  governments,  have 
requested  telegraphic  instructions.  Being  convinced  that 
the  Russian  Commander  will  do  everything  in  his  power 
to  protect  the  cause  of  the  Allies,  which  is  the  cause  of 
liberty  and  democracy,  they  recognize  and  have  signified 
to  their  governments  the  value  of  the  considerations 
requested  by  General  Tcherbatcheff,  also  the  necessity 
of  avoiding  an  intended  attack  by  the  Maximalists 
on  the  Russo- Roumanian  and  Southwestern  fronts. 
They  also  recognize,  together  with  the  Prime  Minister, 
the  gravity  of  the  danger  threatening  the  Roumanian 
army  in  the  existing  situation." 

{Dec.  4.)  We  have  sent  telegrams  to  our  govern- 
ments, in  effect  as  follows: 

"The  situation  rapidly  becoming  worse.  May  at 
any  time  require  immediate  decision,  and  therefore  we 
request  instructions  at  once  as  to  what  is  to  be  our 
attitude  in  these  hypotheses:    If,  contrary  to  General 


150  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Tcherbatcheff's  opinion,  the  armistice  bespeakings  do 
not  prevent  the  disbanding  of  the  Russian  troops,  or 
lead  to  the  conclusion  of  a  separate  peace,  must  we 
admit  that  the  Roumanian  government  should  do  like- 
wise, or  should  we  encourage  them  to  try  to  leave  the 
country,  which  would  result  in  a  government  appointed 
by  the  enemy,  and  hostile  to  the  Entente?  Or  in  case 
General  Tcherbatcheff  is  replaced  by  a  Bolshevik  com- 
mander, must  we  avoid  intercourse  with  him?  It  is 
apparent  that  this  would  threaten  even  greater  danger 
for  the  royal  family  and  government.  It  would  then 
be  necessary  for  them  to  leave,  which  is  only  possible 
with  the  aid  of  the  Russian  authorities." 

The  Russian  staff  received  a  communication  from 
the  Ukrainian  government  that  peace  at  any  price  is 
desired.  On  the  other  hand,  press  advices  are  that 
General  Kaledine  will  remain  passive,  which  statement 
seems  to  be  supported  by  the  quietness  of  the  Cossacks 
on  the  Roumanian  front.  According  to  our  best  advices, 
the  state  of  anarchy  in  southern  Russia  and  the  absence 
of  organization  make  it  impossible  for  the  Roumanian 
army  to  move  out  of  Bessarabia.  Of  course,  if  these 
conditions  improve,  we  will  act  with  all  our  strength. 
Colonel  Yates  and  I  urge  that  the  Roumanian  army 
march  immediately  into  Russia,  but  my  colleagues  and 
their  military  attaches  claim  it  is  impossible,  for  the 
foregoing  reasons,  and  also  because  the  roads  in  Bessa- 
rabia are  impassable  in  winter. 

(Dec.  5.)  A  Russian  newspaper  prints  the  statement 
by  the  High  Command  that  General  Tcherbatcheff,  with 
the  consent  of  the  Roumanians,  has  proposed  an  armis- 
tice, and  that  before  doing  so,  he  notified  the  representa- 
tives of  the  Allies. 


Family  Meeting  at  Sofia 


A  Turkish  House  in  Macedonia 


RUSSIAN   REVOLUTION  151 

In  accordance  with  telegraphic  advices  from  our 
governments,  we  have  informed  the  Prime  Minister 
that  the  Entente  is  opposed  to  an  armistice  and  desires 
that  the  Roumanian  army  be  kept  up.  Mr.  Bratiano 
states  that  through  the  treason  of  the  Russian  army, 
the  Roumanian  army  is  put  in  an  unforeseen  plight. 
He  says  a  meeting,  presided  over  by  the  king,  has 
instructed  the  Roumanian  parliament  to  act  in  accord- 
ance with  the  armistice.  He  says  it  is  impossible  for 
the  Roumanian  army  to  move  to  Russia  at  present, 
owing  to  lack  of  credit  to  provide  food  and  other  supplies. 
The  French  Minister,  in  our  names,  has  advised  the  king 
of  the  allowance  of  unlimited  credit  for  feeding  the 
Roumanian  army,  and  to  make  these  funds  immediately 
available,  it  is  necessary  to  advise  the  banks  in  Odessa 
and  Kiev. 

{Dec.  7.)    We  have  telegraphed  our  governments: 

"The  Prime  Minister  advises  us  today  of  telegrams 
from  his  representative  in  Paris.  He  states  the  insistence 
of  the  Allied  Powers  upon  the  removal  of  the  Roumanian 
army  to  Russia,  is  in  disregard  of  existing  conditions, 
and  is  asking  the  impossible.  He  repeats  that  the 
Roumanian  army  is  between  a  million  hostile  Russians 
and  the  Austro-German  enemy,  and  there  is  no  aid  for 
them  in  southern  Russia.  He  has  telegraphed  this  to 
the  Roumanian  Minister  in  Paris." 

Mr.  Bratiano  states  if  the  Allies  persist  in  their 
demands  he  will  retire,  and  adds  that  public  opinion  is 
turning  against  his  government  and  the  Allies.  We 
have  informed  him  that  last  night  General  Tcherbatcheff 
warned  us  of  an  impending  attack  by  the  Bolsheviki 
on  the  Russian  Legation  and  staff  in  Jassy,  as  well  as 
on  the  Roumanian  heads  of  state,  urging  that  precau- 


152  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

tionary  steps,   and  even  more  energetic  measures,  be 
taken. 

{Dec.  10.)  Our  colleague  from  Russia  has  received 
notice  from  Trotsky  demanding  his  resignation  and  that 
of  all  Russian  representatives  who  do  not  support  the 
foreign  policies  of  the  Maximalists.  He  and  Bratiano 
have  asked  our  advice,  giving  due  consideration  to  the 
fact  that  Russian  troops  in  Moldavia  are  exposed  to 
Maximalist  attack,  and  are  dependent  on  Russia  for 
food.  He  and  his  staff  have  decided  to  repudiate  the 
Bolsheviki.  We  have  signed  a  declaration  that  we 
have  no  objection  to  any  solution  which  does  not  involve 
recognition  of  the  Maximalists. 

The  Prime  Minister  has  telegraphed  the  Roumanian 
ministers  in  the  allied  countries  today,  instructing  them 
to  inform  the  respective  governments  that  if  circum- 
stances force  an  immediate  decision  on  the  part  of  Rou- 
mania,  it  will  be  impossible  to  wait  for  the  advice  or 
approval  of  the  Allies.  We  realize  that  this  is  true,  and 
think  it  advisable  to  give  Roumania  proof  of  our  con- 
fidence. 

We  perceive  the  danger  of  the  Allies,  who  do  not 
seem  to  realize  that  owing  to  their  inability  to  control 
events  in  Russia,  the  situation  in  Roumania  is  hopeless. 
It  should  be  realized  that  Roumania  is  actually  between 
two  enemies,  and  that  yielding  to  the  one  would  at  least 
restore  peace  and  order,  and  permit  return  to  their 
homes;  while  acknowledgment  of  the  other,  and  recog- 
nition of  its  theories,  would  result  in  treason,  anarchy 
and  famine.  We  determine  to  do  everything  in  our 
power  to  sustain  Roumania  in  her  difficult  position, 
and  have  again  asked  our  governments  for  general  instruc- 
tions, and  for  specific  instructions  previously  requested. 


RUSSIAN   REVOLUTION  153 

Mr.  Bratiano  calls  our  attention  to  the  fact  that,  while 
his  government  has  discussed  an  armistice,  there  has 
been  no  talk  about  peace. 

Our  Russian  colleague,  having  ignored  the  notice 
from  Trotsky,  is  discharged,  and  with  him  will  go  all 
members  of  the  legation.  They  intend  to  leave  minor 
routine  affairs  in  the  hands  of  a  clerk.  If  Trotsky  sends 
a  representative  to  Jassy,  many  difficulties  will  be 
encountered  in  our  intercourse  with  him. 

We  realize  that  the  probable  departure  of  the  Rou- 
manian royal  family  and  officials  can  only  be  effected 
through  arrangement  by  the  Allies'  representatives  with 
the  Russian  authorities.  In  case  of  general  disbanding 
of  the  troops  and  inability  to  organize  a  new  campaign 
of  resistance,  the  only  means  of  checking  the  probable 
intention  of  the  enemy  to  arrange  a  separate  peace  with 
Roumania,  would  be  the  absence  of  the  king  and  the 
government. 

Failing  in  this,  the  king  and  officials  would  inevitably 
fall  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  or  be  obliged  to  enter 
into  negotiations.     This  must  be  avoided  at  any  cost. 

We  have  again  advised  our  governments  of  the 
necessity  of  eventually  establishing  relations  with  the 
Maximalist  agents,  though  on  conditions  which  will  not 
involve  the  recognition  of  their  government,  and  have 
requested  that  instructions  to  that  effect  be  given  the 
representatives  of  our  governments  in  Russia. 

{Dec.  14.)  The  Ukrainian  government  has  requested 
financial  aid  from  the  Entente,  in  order  to  free  them- 
selves from  the  Maximalists.  We  think  this  should 
be  given,  as  their  friendship,  and  the  friendly  feeling 
which  would  be  stimulated  elsewhere,  would  be  of  great 
value.    This  should  be  in  the  nature  of  a  credit  which 


154  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

would  establish  Ukrainian  issues  on  a  basis  higher  than 
the  current  value  of  the  ruble,  and  would  tend  to  de- 
preciate the  Maximalist  issues,  and  to  bind  Ukrainia  to 
us,  as  well  as  other  parts  of  Russia  that  might  follow 
her  example. 

We  urgently  request  information  as  soon  as  possible 
as  to  how  we  can  avail  ourselves  of  credits  allowed  for 
feeding  the  Roumanian  army. 

Owing  to  cancellation  of  rank  and  pay  of  officers, 
and  arrest  of  committees  by  the  Maximalists,  a  group 
of  officers,  through  Ukrainian  influence,  has  organized 
in  opposition.  They  have  arrested  the  Maximalist  com- 
mittee in  Jassy,  and  the  Russian  staff  at  the  Ukrainian 
front,  and  are  developing  their  military  plans.  Con- 
ditions in  Ukrainia  and  the  Cossack  territory  seem  more 
favorable. 

It  is  very  necessary  that  this  movement  be  vigorous- 
ly developed,  as  the  only  means  to  combat  Maximalist 
and  pacifist  action.  The  funds  at  the  disposal  of  the 
English  and  French  Legations  are  enough  for  immediate 
necessities,  but  insufficient  for  the  powerful  organization 
which  will  be  necessary. 

A  military  budget  of  the  two  fronts,  unaer  control 
of  the  Allies,  should  be  instituted.  One  of  the  first 
results  would  be  to  stop  the  forwarding  of  funds  to 
Petrograd. 

Realizing  the  extreme  gravity  of  the  present  situa- 
tion, the  ministers  of  the  Allies  request,  according  to  the 
policy  adopted  by  the  food  commission  of  the  Roumanian 
army,  that  the  necessary  credit  be  allowed  to  provide 
the  two  Russian  fronts,  through  the  banks  of  Jassy, 
Kiev  and  Odessa. 

{Dec.  19.)    Being  informed  that  Mr.  Take  Jonescu 


Turkish  Palace  at  Bardovac,  Used  for  War  Prisoners 


Serbian  Fortress  at  Belgrade 


RUSSIAN  REVOLUTION  155 

intended  to  leave  the  country,  which  would  result  in  a 
ministerial  crisis,  we  went  to  him  in  a  body,  protesting 
that  his  departure,  and  the  consequent  crisis,  would  be 
inimical  to  the  interests  of  the  Entente,  and  should  be 
avoided  at  any  cost.  He  implied  that  impending  events 
might  make  it  imperative  for  Roumania  to  make  a 
separate  peace,  and  he  wished  to  avoid  any  responsi- 
bility. We  said  we  regarded  his  presence,  and  that  of 
the  supporters  of  the  war  policy,  as  a  guarantee,  and 
everything  possible  would  be  done  to  prevent  this 
occurrence. 

Von  Mackensen  has  telegraphed  the  Roumanian  staff, 
asking  if  they  consider  the  original  armistice  replaced 
by  the  Russian  armistice  for  the  front  on  the  Baltic, 
and  General  Prezan  answered  that  Roumania  recognized 
only  the  armistice  for  the  Russo-Roumanian  front. 

The  Maximalist  movement,  unopposed  by  either  Rou- 
manians or  Russians,  develops  more  and  more,  and 
is  a  serious  menace  to  all  Roumania  as  well  as  to  the 
Russian  commanders.  It  caused  the  abandonment  of 
the  front  by  the  Russian  troops,  and  as  a  consequence, 
the  defeat  of  the  Roumanians  by  the  Austro-Hungarians. 
Stripping  the  officers  of  their  rank  and  authority  con- 
verted the  troops  into  mobs  that  ravaged  the  entire 
countr>^  Deprived  of  system  and  organization,  these 
troops  were  condemned  to  famine. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

DEFECTION  OF  RUSSIANS  ON  ROUMANIAN  FRONT  — 
UKRAINIA  DECLARES  INDEPENDENCE 

{December  20,  1917) 

THE  Prime  Minister  called  us  to  a  meeting  and 
explained  the  general  situation.  He  stated  that 
all  are  in  accord  as  to  the  advisability  of  a  police  opera- 
tion to  control  disbanded  troops  and  restore  order. 
The  station  of  Socola,  now  a  Bolshevik  hotbed,  must 
be  brought  under  strict  rule. 

As  immediate  decision  is  necessary,  we  have  addressed 
the  following  letter  to  the  Prime  Minister: 

"You  have  explained  to  us  the  situation  in  which 
Roumania  is  placed  by  Maximalist  acts,  and  we  realize 
its  extreme  gravity,  and  the  impossibility  of  correcting 
it  without  the  aid  of  the  Roumanian  army  within  a 
short  time.  You  inform  us  that  measures  to  check 
the  Maximalist  movement  are  being  successfully  car- 
ried out  in  Ulirainia.  We  approve,  and  are  ready  to 
aid,  by  all  means,  the  police  operation  proposed,  which 
seems  the  only  means  to  restore  order  in  Moldavia; 
and  we  recognize  the  imperative  necessity  of  maintain- 
ing a  front  which  connects  with  the  Ukrainian  front. 
We  realize  that  if  this  operation  fails,  and  if  Roumania 
is  unable  to  carry  out  her  plan  for  the  removal  of  the 
troops  and  the  departure  of  the  royal  family  and  officials, 
the  Entente  must  admit  that  Roumania  has  done  her 
duty,  and  loyally  kept  her  engagements." 

{Dec.  22.)    The  situation  is  becoming  worse.    Last 
night,  armed  Bolsheviki  from  Socola  appeared  in  Jassy 

156 


DEFECTION  OF  RUSSIANS  157 

and  endeavored  to  seize  General  Tcherbatcheff.  They 
were  arrested  by  the  Russian  guard  and  turned  over  to 
the  Roumanian  troops.  Bolsheviki  detachments  from 
Russian  territory,  and  from  Moldavia,  are  advancing 
on  Jassy.  Execution  of  the  police  operation  plan  be- 
comes imperative,  especially  so  as  large  quantities  of 
ammunition  are  at  Socola  in  the  hands  of  the  Maxi- 
malists. 

The  Prime  Minister  informs  us  that  immediate 
action  was  decided  upon  by  the  government  ministers 
in  meeting  last  night,  and  he  states  that  this  is  the  last 
act  by  which  the  Roumanian  government  can  attempt 
to  remedy  the  desperate  situation.  He  adds  that,  if 
this  fails,  or  in  other  words,  if  instead  of  restoring  order 
in  the  Russian  ranks,  it  results  in  a  conflict  between  the 
Russian  and  Roumanian  troops,  and  at  the  same  time 
an  attack  on  the  latter  by  the  Germans,  further  sacri- 
fices would  be  of  no  benefit  for  the  Entente.  Roumania 
would  have  done  her  full  duty,  and  would  not  be  justi- 
fied in  further  exposing  the  country  to  massacres  and  to 
the  ravages  of  an  army  of  destruction. 

We  understand  the  Prime  Minister's  attitude  is 
that,  in  case  of  absolute  necessity,  his  country  may 
make  a  separate  peace,  although  the  Entente  will  still 
be  bound  by  the  terms  of  its  agreement. 

{Dec.  24.)  The  first  steps  have  been  taken  agamst 
the  Maximalists,  and  met  no  resistance.  They  pro- 
duced good  effects  and  sensibly  bettered  the  morale  in 
Roumanian  circles.  At  the  demand  of  General  Tcher- 
batcheff, the  English  and  French  Legations  have  placed 
at  his  disposal  funds  to  pay  the  Russian  troops  that 
remain  under  his  command.  These  troops  are  without 
present  fighting  value,  the  immediate  object  being  to 


158  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

prevent  further  depredations  on  their  part,  with  the 
hope  of  ultimately  making  them  effective  again.* 

{Dec.  27.)  We  have  arranged  with  the  Mmister  of 
Finance  for  the  realization  of  the  credit  of  $20,000,000 
for  feeding  the  Roumanian  armies.  He  urges  that, 
owing  to  the  situation  in  Russia,  due  allowance  should 
be  made  Roumania  for  depreciation,  and  difficulties 
which  would  not  have  been  encountered  if  the  credit 
had  been  allowed  when  it  was  asked  for,  about  five 
months  before.  The  banks  have  been  closed,  the  public 
generally  having  withdrawn  deposits. 

We  have  today  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Rou- 
manian government  five  million  dollars,  six  hundred 
thousand  pounds  and  two  million  francs.  The  propor- 
tionately small  amount  of  francs  is  due  to  the  fact  that 
dollars  and  pounds  are  easier  to  negotiate.  These 
amounts  are  to  be  handed  to  the  president  of  the  Inter- 
allied commissions  of  South  Russia. 

The  English  and  French  agents  in  Odessa  state  that 
they  cannot  accomplish  their  work  without  the  aid  of 
the  Russian  authorities,  who  v\^ill  not  consent  unless  the 

*It  was  at  this  time  that  I  cabled  my  government,  as  previously  mentioned, 
that  a  force  of  200,000  fighting  Russians  could  be  enlisted  to  establish  order  in 
Ukrainia  and  effectually  check  the  rising  tide  of  Bolshevism,  and  I  begged  for 
immediate  approval  and  action  to  finance  the  organization.  But  the  approval 
came  too  late.  Had  it  been  given  within  fifteen  days,  this  force  could  have  been 
organized  and  maintained,  and  history  might  have  been  spared  the  frightful 
record  of  subsequent  events  and  conditions  in  the  unhappy  countries  that  were 
denied  this  means  of  salvation. 

The  plan  had  the  unqualified  approval  of  all  the  representatives  of  the  Allies 
in  Jassy,  and  it  was  their  unanimous  opinion  that  if  America  acted  promptly, 
it  would  most  favorably  alter  the  Roumanian  situation.  Furthermore,  the 
generally  beneficial  effects  of  this  operation  would  encourage  similar  action  in 
Northern  Russia,  which  could  be  put  into  effect  by  the  representatives  of  the 
Allies  in  Petrograd,  and  thereby  the  Maximalists  could  be  kept  out  of  Moscow, 
the  most  important  railroad  center,  and  connection  kept  open  with  southern 
Russia,  Archangel  and  Vladivostock.  Being  in  position  to  fully  understand  the 
situation  in  every  respect,  the  ministers  in  Jassy  believed  our  governments  could 
not  fail  to  realize  the  vital  importance  of  these  steps. 


On  the  Road  to  Knjashevatz,  Serbia 


mt         O^^v                               ^uKml         il'^Jw 

M 

Wf^  m 

I                                                                  jvMS    ^j;j_\, 

Tombs  of  Serbiax  Soldiers 


DEFECTION  OF  RUSSIANS  159 

Russian  troops  on  the  Roumanian  front  are  fed.  This 
cannot  be  done  out  of  funds  in  hand,  and  will  necessitate 
a  new  and  special  credit. 

{Dec.  30.)  We  learn  that  while  police  operations 
against  the  Maximalists  have  been  effective  in  main- 
taining order  and  lessening  depredations,  discipline  is 
sadly  lacking  in  the  Russian  troops  at  the  front.  The 
Prime  Minister  considers  the  situation  very  dangerous 
and  states  that  unless  improvement  can  be  speedily 
brought  about,  other  measures  must  be  adopted.  We 
recognize  the  peril,  and  believe  the  only  remedy  is  to 
form  a  few  Russian  units,  and  have  able  officers  return 
to  the  aid  of  General  Tcherbatcheff,  whose  greatest 
need  is  the  support  of  capable  officers. 

{Jan.  2,  1918.)  The  Prime  Minister  informs  us  that 
Russian  troops  continue  to  abandon  the  front,  and  that  the 
Roumanian  army  is  in  danger  of  being  surrounded.  Also 
that  news  from  Ukrainia  is  bad.  Our  advices  from 
military  sources  do  not  agree  with  his  statement. 

All  the  heavy  artillery  of  the  Germans  has  been 
sent  to  other  fronts,  and  as  a  result  of  the  removal  of 
troops,  the  German  force  is  inferior  to  the  Roumanian. 
A  menace  to  the  Austrian  troops  on  the  Roumanian 
front  lies  in  the  friendly  relations  they  are  establishing 
with  the  Russians. 

{Jan.  16.)  Apprehension  having  been  expressed  by 
the  Bessarabian  authorities  regarding  the  sending  there 
of  Roumanian  troops  to  maintain  order  and  protect  the 
railroads  and  the  food  depots  from  the  Bolsheviki,  we 
have,  at  their  request,  approved  the  following  written 
guarantee : 

"This  is  purely  a  military  measure,  as  its  only  object 
is  to  guarantee  the  normal  functioning  of  service  for  the 
11 


160  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Russo-Roumanian  front,  in  conformity  with  the  rules 
established  in  the  belligerent  countries.  This  can  thus 
not  affect  in  any  way  the  actual  or  future  politics  of 
Bessarabia." 

{Jan.  17.)  We  were  visited  by  the  Ukrainian  dele- 
gates, Mr.  Galip,  sub-secretary  of  the  Foreign  Affairs 
department,  and  Mr.  Golicynsky,  Director  of  Finance. 
According  to  Mr.  Galip,  the  situation  may  be  summed 
up  as  follows: 

(1)  According  to  public  opinion,  the  Ukrainians  do 
not  consider  themselves  bound  by  any  treaties  which 
originate  from  the  Czarist  system. 

(2)  That  Ukrainia  cannot  possibly  go  on  fighting,  as 
she  has  no  army,  and  that  concerning  the  Brest-Litovsk 
conference,  the  Ukrainian  people  so  much  want  peace 
that  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  government  to  act 
to  the  contrary,  the  more  as  the  Bolsheviki  have  con- 
tracted peace  with  the  Austro-Germans. 

(3)  That  the  Ukrainian  government  is  recruitmg 
troops  by  voluntary  enlistment  to  maintain  order  in 
the  interior,  to  fight  against  the  Bolsheviki,  and  to 
guarantee  the  independence  of  the  country  against  the 
foreigners. 

(4)  That  Ukrainia  will  not  admit  interference  from 
other  Russian  states  in  her  interior  affairs,  and  that 
she  will  respect  the  independence  of  those  other  states. 
(However,  Mr.  Galip  adds  that  his  country  does  not 
exclude  the  possibility  of  a  federal  bond  with  the  other 
parts  of  Russia,  and  that  he  has  even  tried  to  get  into 
connections  with  the  South  Russia  Union,  also  with 
Bessarabia.) 

(5)  That  as  a  result  of  the  interior  conditions  and 
the  connections  with  the  foreign  states,  the  economic 
and  financial  situation  of  Ukrainia  is  particularly  grave. 


DEFECTION  OF  RUSSIANS  161 

Therefore,  Mr.  Galip  has  made  the  following  demands: 

(1)  That  the  mdependence  of  Ukrainia  be  recognized 
by  the  great  powers  of  the  Entente,  and  that  diplomatic 
allied  representatives  be  appointed  at  Kiev. 

(2)  That  the  Entente  financially  aid  the  Ukrainian 
government. 

(3)  That  the  Entente  facilitate  the  sending  of  man- 
ufactured goods  to  Ukrainia. 

During  the  conversation,  Mr.  Galip  admitted  that 
the  military  position  in  Russia  would  be  changed  entirely 
if  allied  forces  were  sent  to  Russia,  provided  the  Allies 
were  masters  of  connections  with  Vladivostock  and  could 
come  to  an  agreement  with  Turkey  and  Bulgaria,  whose 
representatives  in  Brest-Litovsk  have  shown  a  certain 
ill-feeling  against  Germany  and  Austro-Hungary. 

We  stated  to  Messrs.  Galip  and  Golicynsky  that  we 
would  give  them  a  reply  after  deliberation.  Conse- 
quently, we  called  on  them  this  morning  and  stated  to 
them  as  follows: 

(1)  That  first  of  all  the  Allied  Powers  request  that 
Ukrainia,  if  not  at  present  able  to  go  to  war,  shall 
agree  not  to  contract  a  separate  peace.  We  call  the 
attention  of  the  Ukrainian  delegates  to  the  fact  that 
this  engagement  was  already  clearly  contained  in  a  note 
that  their  government  addressed  to  the  Allied  embassies 
in  Petrograd,  which  mentioned  that  Ukrainia  did  not 
intend  to  contract  a  separate  peace,  but  would  only 
participate  in  a  general  peace  and  with  full  consent 
of  the  Entente. 

(2)  That  the  Ukrainian  government  should  mean- 
time not  get  into  economic  relations  with  the  enemy. 

(3)  That  the  Ukrainian  authorities  should  organize, 
together  with   the   allied   militar>^   missions,    an   army 


162  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Strong  enough  not  only  to  maintain  order  in  the  interior, 
but  to  guarantee  the  country  against  exterior  attacks. 

(4)  That  the  Ukrainian  government  should  get  into 
connection  with  the  other  autonomic  states  of  Russia, 
as  also  with  Roumania,  so  as  to  be  able  to  oppose  a  strong 
resistance  to  the  Central  Empires,  which  are  the  natural 
adversaries  of  the  nationalistic  principle,  as  was  once 
confirmed  by  the  Brest-Litovsk  negotiations. 

(5)  That  the  Ukrainian  government  should  agree  to 
facilitate  the  sending  of  foods  to  Roumania,  and  that 
the  necessary  steps  should  be  taken  to  insure  a  regular 
service  on  the  railroads,  together  with  Bessarabia  and 
the  Roumanian  government. 

We  also  considered  it  our  duty  to  protest  as  regards 
the  statement  from  Mr.  Galip  concerning  the  treaties 
of  the  Czarist  system.  We  called  his  attention  to  the 
fact  that  the  Allied  Powers  joined  the  war,  not  for  a 
reason  which  interested  the  Czar  and  his  government, 
but  at  the  request  of  Russia,  because  of  a  small  Slavic 
population  that  the  Central  Powers  would  crush;  that 
the  war,  started  by  the  Central  Powers,  was  being  sus- 
tained by  the  Allies  to  defend  the  principle  of  nationalism 
in  conformity  with  the  feelings  of  the  Russian  people. 
Consequently,  the  Entente  Powers  have  treated,  through 
the  intermediary  of  the  Imperial  government,  with  the 
whole  of  Russia,  and  the  fundamental  principles  of  this 
treaty  must  be  accepted  and  recognized  by  all  the 
Russian  states,  and  especially  by  Ukrainia. 

We  also  asserted  that  the  attitude  of  the  Allied 
Powers  towards  Ukrainia  in  regard  to  recognizing  its 
independence,  giving  financial  aid,  and  in  the  military 
cooperation,  were  depending  on  the  answer  that  we 
should  receive  concerning  the  five  foregoing  stipulations. 


^w«j. 


TlRKlSH     MOSOIK    AT    NiSH 


DEFECTION  OF  RUSSIANS  163 

The  French  Minister  added  that  he  has  from  now  on 
the  authority  to  recognize  the  independence  of  Ukrainia, 
and  that  he  was  ready  to  do  so  immediately,  provided 
the  answer  of  the  delegates  should  prove  satisfactory. 

Mr.  Galip  told  us  he  did  not  have  the  necessary 
authority  to  make  the  requested  engagements,  and  that 
he  would  telegraph  to  Rada. 

The  statements  of  the  Ukrainian  delegates  are  fully 
in  accord  with  information  received  from  the  allied 
agents  at  Kiev,  proving  that  the  Entente  cannot  expect 
any  real  help  from  Ukrainia  for  the  present.  All  we 
can  expect  is  to  gain  time,  so  that  the  Allies  will  have  a 
chance  to  ameliorate  the  general  conditions  at  the 
front.  We  again  express  our  opinion  that  the  only 
means  to  get  Ukrainia's  attitude  in  accordance  with  our 
interests,  is  to  send  inter-allied  forces  to  Russia  in  the 
conditions  which  we  have  already  mentioned.  The 
Roumanian  government  is  under  the  same  impression 
after  a  meeting  with  the  Ukrainian  delegates. 

Prime  Minister  Bratiano  has  telegraphed  to  all  the 
Allied  countries  a  protest  against  the  arrest  of  Minis- 
ter Diamandy.  We  think  it  would  be  wise  policy  for 
our  governments  to  show  sympathy  with  Roumania 
in  this  matter. 

We  representatives  of  the  Allies  in  Roumania  feel 
it  our  duty  to  declare  that  Maximalist  agents  are 
guilty  of  political  and  military  treason,  and  of  the 
commission  of  monstrous  crimes.  They  are  delivering 
their  war  material  to  our  enemies  in  exchange  for  alcohol, 
and  they  are  committing  murder,  arson,  robbery  and 
unspeakable  crimes  against  women.  Having  used  the 
greater  part  of  the  resources  of  their  country,  they  are 
extending  famine  conditions  by  wantonly  destroying 
food  depots  in  Moldavia  and  Bessarabia. 


164  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

{Jan.  21.)  That  the  only  means  of  suppressing  the 
anarchy  in  Russia  lies  in  sending  there  a  few  American 
or  Japanese  troops,  is  apparent,  for  the  following  reasons : 

(1)  All  the  Russian  and  Ukrainian  officers  assure  us 
that  if  the  Kiev  government  succeeds  in  maintaining 
independence  and  organizing  an  army,  they  will  not 
only  refuse  to  fight,  but  also  to  occupy  the  trenches  at 
the  front.  No  more  than  the  Russian  army  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  will  the  Ukrainian  army  start  the  war  again; 
Ukrainia  is  ready  to  do  anything  in  order  to  stay  out 
of  war.  Only  inter-allied  pressure  can  change  these 
circumstances. 

(2)  Three  or  four  Japanese  or  American  divisions 
would  suffice  to  ruin  the  Bolshevik  authority,  and  bring 
around  them,  with  the  defenders  of  order,  all  those  that 
hide  themselves  now  and  do  not  dare  to  speak.  It 
would  be  possible  to  rapidly  form  an  army  around  these. 
All  Russians  agree  that  the  soldiers  would  easily  accept 
very  severe  discipline  at  the  hands  of  foreign  officers. 

(3)  This  matter  is  so  important,  that  if  nothing  is 
done  by  the  Allies,  something  will  be  done  by  the  enemy. 
It  is  a  fact  that  the  Russian  patriots  on  one  side,  and  the 
lando\\Tiers  and  capitalists  on  the  other,  mostly  Ger- 
manized Jews,  wish  to  maintain  the  Russian  state,  the 
others  the  security  of  their  properties.  If  they  cannot 
get  this  from  the  Allies,  they  will  ask  it  from  the  Germans. 

(4)  Numerous  inter-allied  technicians  state  that  mate- 
rially there  would  not  be  great  difficulty  in  making  the 
Japanese  or  Americans  come  to  Russia.  Once  the 
Oriental  bases  of  the  Transiberian  railroad  are  occupied, 
a  few  armored  trains  would  quickly  clear  the  road. 

(5)  The  moral  effect  in  Russia  would  be  considerable, 
and  if  we  do  not  do  it  now,  our  enemies  will  do  it  soon. 


DEFECTION  OF  RUSSIANS  165 

(6)  The  Maximalist  army,  although  insignificant  now, 
brings  danger  to  the  free  movements  of  the  Cossacks 
and  Ukrainians,  and  it  threatens  communication  with 
Roumania.  It  is  to  be  foreseen  that  they  will  soon 
undertake  the  conquest  of  Southern  Russia  on  account 
of  the  German  command.  A  few  divisions  of  German 
cavalry  would  suffice  to  break  all  resistance,  and  would 
serve  the  German  purpose.  On  the  contrary,  the  hesi- 
tating elements,  especially  the  Ukrainians,  state  that 
they  will  definitely  bind  themselves  to  us  if  we  will 
give  them  military  help  in  due  time.  If  not,  they  will 
telegraph  to  the  French  Commission  at  Kiev:  "The 
hands  that  are  stretched  towards  Germany  become 
more  numerous  and  more  supplicative." 

(7)  The  sending  of  inter-allied  troops  to  Russia, 
even  in  small  numbers,  would  demobilize  a  much  greater 
number  of  enemies.  In  fact,  our  military  interference 
would  have  the  double  advantage  of  permitting  the 
Roumanian  army  to  resist  longer,  and  the  organization 
of  a  Russian  army, 

(8)  The  general  opinion  is  that  if  the  question  has 
not  yet  been  settled,  it  is  because  it  has  not  been  pre- 
sented in  proper  terms;  either  the  importance  of  the 
effort  has  been  exaggerated,  or  the  attention  of  the 
Japanese  and  American  governments  has  not  yet  been 
called  to  the  extreme  gravity  of  the  danger,  which  is 
worse  for  them  than  for  the  Allies,  if  we  leave  the  Germans 
to  act  freely  in  Russia. 

(9)  The  sending  of  these  troops  could  be  effected 
without  weakening  the  Western  front,  if  these  troops 
consist  of  Japanese,  or  even  Chinese,  who  would  do  very 
well  for  the  purpose. 

(10)  If  the  Japanese  government  continues  to  refuse 


166  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

to  aid  us,  the  only  means  would  be  in  sending  a  small 
number  of  Americans,  aided  by  Chinese,  Japan  not 
being  in  a  position  to  remain  disinterested  regarding 
actions  in  the  extreme  Orient. 

{Jan.  22.)  The  chief  of  the  Ukrainian  delegation 
communicated  to  us  the  following  information: 

The  Ukrainian  delegates  at  Brest-Litovsk  have 
received  full  authority  to  negotiate  peace  with  the 
Central  Powers.  They  especially  insist  upon  the  reopen- 
ing of  economic  relations.  They  ask  to  exchange  manu- 
factured goods  for  foods  in  Ukrainia.  The  Kiev  govern- 
ment, having  no  army,  and  being  obliged  to  use  their 
weak  police  forces  against  the  Maximalists,  cannot  re- 
sist the  pressure  of  the  Central  Powers. 

According  to  Mr.  Galip,  Ukrainia,  even  after  con- 
clusion of  peace,  will  endeavor,  in  order  to  safeguard 
their  future  interests,  to  keep  on  good  terms  with  the 
Allies,  to  act  with  their  consent  and  limit  to  the  extreme 
minimum  the  foods  to  be  sent  to  the  enemy.  Mr.  Galip 
also  states  that  Ukrainia  will  facilitate  the  feeding  of 
Roumanians  and  the  removal  of  the  Czecho,  Serbian 
and  Transylvanian  national  armies. 

It  is  doubtful  that  Ukrainia,  even  if  sincere,  will  be 
able  to  work  out  these  intentions,  on  account  of  the 
present  state  of  anarchy  and  the  German  influence. 

Mr.  Bratiano,  to  whom  Mr.  Galip  has  made  similar 
statements,  declares  that  the  situation  of  Roumania 
has  grown  much  worse,  and  he  cites  the  following  points: 

(1)  The  isolation  of  Roumania  by  destroying  the 
railroad  connections,  which  would  become  complete  in 
case  Ukrainia  makes  peace. 

(2)  The  conflict  between  Roumanian  troops  and 
part  of  the  6th  Russian  army,  which  bombards  Galatz. 


Turkish  Mosque  at  Uskub,  Macedonia 


Wall  around  the  Prison  in  which  Austro-Hungarian 
Prisoners  Were  Interned  in  Bardovac,  Macedonia 


DEFECTION  OF  RUSSIANS  167 

(3)  Ultimatum  from  the  9th  Russian  army  to  the 
Roumanian  government,  to  obtain  the  free  passage  of 
their  arms  and  luggage  to  go  and  join  the  Maximalist 
troops  in  Russia.  The  attitude  of  these  troops  is  the 
result  of  orders  from  Krilenko. 

(4)  Resistance  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  populace 
and  the  Maximalist  troops  to  the  Roumanian  troops, 
which  have  to  occupy  the  railroads  in  Bessarabia,  and 
the  arrest  of  Roumanian  members  of  the  inter-allied 
commission  of  Kichenev. 

(5)  Impression,  in  a  sense  favorable  to  peace,  made 
on  public  opinion  by  these  happenings,  and  possibility 
of  a  counter  act  in  the  next  meeting  of  parliament. 

There  is  dissension  between  the  Liberal  and  Con- 
servative ministers.  A  note  has  just  been  presented  to 
the  king,  in  which  the  Conservative  members  contend 
that  in  no  case  should  a  separate  legal  peace  be  concluded. 

{Jan.  25.)  General  Tcherbatcheff  advises  us  he  has 
been  notified  by  the  Ukrainian  delegates  of  receipt  by 
them  of  a  telegram  from  Kiev,  stating  peace  will  be 
concluded  by  Ukrainia  within  eight  or  ten  days.  He 
asks  our  interference,  and  we  informed  him  our  agents  in 
Kiev  have  done  everything  possible,  but  their  belief  is 
that  the  conclusion  of  such  peace  is  inevitable.  We 
state  we  count  on  his  loyalty,  and  he  assures  us  he  will 
not  participate  in  a  peace  with  the  enemies  of  the  Entente. 

The  General  admits  that  the  Ukrainian  peace  would 
put  the  Roumanian  army  in  a  very  bad  way,  by  reason 
of  being  cut  off  from  their  supplies  of  war  material. 
There  is  a  depressing  sense  of  complete  isolation,  which 
we  are  trying  hard  to  overcome.  Bel-gium  and  Serbia 
are  at  least  in  contact  with  the  Allies,  but  we  are  abso- 
lutely cut  off,  and  without  hope  of  aid  from  them. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

PEACE    TERMS     IMPOSED     ON    ROUMANIA — RATIFICATION 
URGED  BY  CENTRAL  POWERS 

{January  27,  1918) 

THE  Roumanian  Prime  Minister  expresses  deep 
concern  over  the  apparent  increase  of  Austro- 
German  sympathizers.  He  has  communicated  to  us  the 
instructions  from  General  Coanda  looking  to  securing 
a  clause  in  the  expected  treaty  which  would  permit 
Roumania  the  free  disposal  of  the  foods  and  depots,  but 
he  doubts  that  the  Austro-Germans  would  consent. 
With  the  approach  of  the  opening  of  the  parliament, 
pacifist  tendencies  seem  increasing.  We  are  advancing 
the  view  that  a  serious  Austro-German  offensive  on  the 
Roumanian  front  would  be  impossible  at  present. 

{Jan.  30.)  The  Prime  Minister  advises  us  that  he 
has  telegraphed  our  governments  of  the  breaking  off  of 
diplomatic  relations  with  the  Maximalist  government, 
and  of  the  sequestration  of  Roumanian  funds  in  Moscow. 
He  also  states  that  Ukrainia  has  asked  that  troops  be 
sent  to  Kiev,  Poltava  and  Odessa.  He  thinks  the  Allies 
should  protect  them  against  the  loss  of  the  funds,  and 
I  stated  that  while  I  cannot  do  so  without  authority 
from  our  governments,  if  the  Roumanian  army  will 
march  into  Russia,  I  will  join  my  colleagues  in  such  a 
guarantee. 

We  have  repeatedly  stated  that  the  only  way  to 
help  Roumania,  and  to  protect  the  Allies  against  new 
attacks,  is  to  better  conditions  in  Russia  by  sending 
inter-allied  troops  into  that  country.  The  fact  that 
Ukrainia   asks   for   troops   from   Roumania,   the  most 

168 


PEACE  TERMS   IMPOSED  ON   ROUMANIA      169' 

unpopular  in  Russia  of  all  the  Allies,  is  a  sure  indica- 
tion that  an  inter-allied  expedition  would  be  wel- 
comed. 

{Feb.  2.)  We  have  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Prime 
Minister,  assuring  him  of  the  confidence  of  our  govern- 
ments, and  stating  that  in  event  of  the  alternative  of 
either  suffering  another  Austro-German  offensive  or 
making  a  separate  peace,  the  best  way  to  overcome 
the  pacifist  tendencies  would  be  through  military  activity 
on  the  other  fronts,  if  possible. 

The  Prime  Minister  stated  to  us  today  that  Roumania 
is  the  only  one  of  the  Allied  countries  with  which  the 
Bolsheviki  have  broken  off  diplomatic  relations,  and  he 
suggests  it  would  be  wise  policy  on  the  part  of  our 
governments  to  maintain  amicable  relations  with  the 
Bolsheviki  in  Ukrainia. 

{Feb.  4.)  The  Roumanian  ministers  have  asked  us 
to  arrange  for  the  safe  return  of  their  representatives 
now  in  Odessa.  We  have  instructed  our  consuls  general 
in  Odessa,  and  have  advised  our  governments  of  what 
we  believe  would  be  the  wisest  procedure.  Prime  Min- 
ister Bratiano  again  calls  our  attention  to  the  sacrifices 
made  by  Roumania,  stating  that  it  was  with  our  consent 
that  he  undertook  the  police  protection  against  the 
Maximalists,  and  if  grave  consequences  result  there- 
from, he  holds  that  the  Entente  should  consider  that 
Roumania  has  fulfilled  her  obligations,  and  they  should 
keep  all  their  agreements,  even  if  Roumania  should  be 
unable  to  continue  the  fight  against  the  Germans. 

This  indicates  the  state  of  mind  of  the  Roumanian 
government  and  of  the  majority  of  the  people.  We  are 
doing  our  utmost  to  counteract  it,  but  the  position  is  very 
difficult,  with  the  impossibility  of  any  military  assistance 


170  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

from  the  Allies  thus  far,  and  the  tempting  peace  proposals 
made  by  the  Germans. 

{Feb.  5.)  The  Prime  Minister  has  conferred  with 
us  regarding  the  message  received  from  von  Mackensen. 
He  understands  it  to  mean  that  unless  peace  negotia- 
tions are  begun,  another  attack  will  be  made  on  Rou- 
mania.  We  believe  that  von  Mackensen  regards  an 
armistice  as  of  no  value  unless  it  is  followed  by  peace 
proposals,  and  that  he  considers  the  military  standing 
of  Roumania  as  crippled  by  the  defection  of  the  Rus- 
sian troops  and  the  conflict  with  the  Maximalists.  We 
have  expressed  the  belief  that  the  enemy  is  not  in  good 
form  for  an  offensive,  but  Mr.  Bratiano  says  the  Germans 
do  not  make  threats  unless  they  intend  to  fulfill  them. 

{Feb.  6.)  The  German  Staff  has  fixed  a  limit  of 
four  days  for  peace  negotiations  to  be  begun. 

{Feb.  7.)  Certain  of  the  Roumanian  ministers  take 
a  decided  stand  against  the  negotiations  of  a  separate 
peace.  The  Prime  Minister  declares  he  will  resign  un- 
less a  peace  conference  is  held,  but  he  is  willing  to 
aid  the  members  of  the  Conservative  party  in  form- 
ing a  new  cabinet.  We  have  informed  him  that  the 
attitude  of  our  governments  has  been  clearly  stated, 
and  that  we  are  unalterably  opposed  to  any  peace 
negotiations. 

It  is  the  general  belief  that  the  Germans  will  be 
comparatively  moderate  in  their  terms,  and  that  King 
Ferdinand  will  be  permitted  to  retain  the  throne.  This 
strengthens  the  peace  party. 

The  leaders  of  the  Conservative  party  in  a  confer- 
ence with  us,  at  which  General  Berthelot  was  present, 
declared  they  were  opposed  to  peace  negotiations,  but 
the  Prime  Minister  does  not  share  their  views.    The 


At  the  Funeral  of  Queen  Elisabeth 

Charge  d'  Affaires  Monteforti  of  Persia.  Herr  von 
BusscHE,  German  Minister,  Count  Czernin,  Austro- 
Hungarian  Minister  and  Charles  J.  Vopicka,  American 
Minister 


Prince  Nicolai  of  Roumania  in  the  Parade  on  May  io 


PEACE  TERMS  IMPOSED  ON  ROUMANIA      171 

Conservatives  feel  they  are  too  much  in  the  minority 
to  be  effective,  especially  as  they  cannot  get  the  support 
of  General  Averescu,  whose  authority  is  great,  and  who 
has  declared  in  favor  of  the  peace  negotiations. 

The  resignations  of  the  ministers  have  been  accepted 
by  the  king.  We  have  urged  Take  Jonescu  to  accept 
the  office  of  Prime  Minister,  but  he  declined,  saying  he 
would  have -neither  the  king's  approval  nor  the  Liberal 
party's  cooperation  in  his  policy. 

The  Maximalist  committees  of  Odessa  have  pro- 
posed that  a  mixed  commission  investigate  matters  in 
Bessarabia  and  the  Russo-Roumanian  front.  We  have 
sanctioned  the  participation  of  Allies'  delegates,  as  sug- 
gested by  the  Maximalists.  This  is  important,  as 
the  continuation  of  hostilities  between  Roumania  and 
the  Maximalists  will  be  one  of  the  main  arguments  in 
favor  of  a  separate  peace. 

After  the  armistice  was  signed  between  the  Bolshe- 
viki  and  Germany,  many  people  who  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war  had  been  obliged  to  leave  their  homes,  in 
Russia,  Poland  or  in  the  district  where  the  armies  were 
operating,  were  returning  to  their  homes  via  Jassy,  in 
a  condition  which  was  more  than  pitiful. 

One  case  was  especially  touching.  In  a  train  full 
of  Polish  families  the  two  rear  cars  had  no  windows  or 
doors.  The  weather  was  frightfully  cold,  and  when  I 
arrived  to  see  these  travelers,  who  had  applied  to  me  for 
aid,  I  found  many  women  nearly  frozen,  with  children 
on  their  laps,  and  among  them  were  six  women  who 
were  so  far  gone  Vv-ith  cold  and  hunger  that  they  did  not 
know  their  children  were  dead. 

The  Roumanians  did  not  have  very  much  to  give. 


172  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

but  this  picture  of  misery  touched  me  so  much  that  I 
went  directly  to  the  Minister  of  War  and  asked  him  to 
give  these  people  the  necessary  bread,  so  that  they  could 
be  sustained  until  their  arrival  at  Odessa.  I  also  obtained 
for  them  from  my  friends  a  supply  of  tea,  coffee  and  sugar, 
and  helped  them  to  bury  their  poor  babies  before  they 
proceeded,  although  for  a  while  they  refused  to  part 
with  them.  I  also  had  two  good  cars  substituted  for 
the  ones  without  windows.  This  was  one  of  the  most 
pitiful  scenes  that  I  witnessed  during  the  war. 

(Feb.  9.)  The  king  has  authorized  General  Averescu 
to  form  a  new  cabinet.  The  day  after  he  was  made 
Prime  Minister  he  informed  me  that  he  was  in  favor  of 
peace.  It  is  evident  that  negotiations  between  Roumania 
and  the  Central  Powers  will  lead  to  a  separate  peace  in 
a  short  time,  unless  the  Entente  can  bring  about  a 
decided  change  in  conditions.  We  think  this  can  only 
be  effected  by  authorizing  the  four  ministers  of  the  Allies 
to  make  the  following  representations  to  the  king  of 
Roumania: 

(1)  That  the  Allied  Powers  will  absolutely  main- 
tain all  their  engagements  with  Roumania  in  the  con- 
vention of  Bucharest  of  August,  1916.  That  they  will 
not  conclude  peace  without  the  freedom  of  Roumania 
and  that  the  king  will  be  replaced  on  the  throne  in  case 
he  has  to  leave  the  country,  that  in  any  case,  the  king 
and  the  Roumanian  government,  even  after  having  been 
compelled  to  leave  the  country,  will  participate  at  the 
peace  negotiations,  and  finally  that  all  financial  and 
other  aid  will  be  furnished  to  the  king,  the  government, 
the  parliament  and  the  Roumanian  army,  even  out  of 
the  national  territory.     It  would  be  desirable  that  this 


PEACE  TERMS   IMPOSED   ON   ROUMANIA       173 

statement  be  made  also  in  the  name  of  the  American 
government,  although  it  did  not  sign  at  the  Convention 
of  Bucharest. 

(2)  That  anything  accomplished  on  the  invaded 
territory  would  be  considered  nil  by  the  Allied  Powers. 

(3)  That  the  Allies  will  undertake  a  powerful  offensive 
on  the  Western  front,  and  on  the  Italian  front,  and  if 
possible  also  on  the  Balkanic  front,  in  case  Roumania 
should  be  threatened  to  be  crushed  on  account  of  breaking 
off  the  conference  at  Focsani. 

(4)  That  the  Entente  would  do  everything  possible 
to  terminate  the  conflict  with  the  Maximalists. 

If  our  governments  approve  of  this  course,  it  will  be 
necessary  to  give  instructions  accordingly  without  delay. 

We  urge  the  importance  of  giving  publicity,  through 
the  press  of  the  Allied  countries,  to  events  and  conditions 
in  Roumania,  fully  setting  forth  the  sacrifices  that  have 
been  made,  and  emphasizing  the  woeful  state  of  isolation. 

{Feb.  12.)  The  German  Staff  has  allowed  an  exten- 
sion of  time  for  beginning  peace  negotiations,  in  order  to 
permit  the  formation  of  a  new  cabinet.  Von  Mackensen 
stated  he  expected  results  in  forty-eight  hours,  adding 
that  he  presumed  the  new  cabinet  would  not  contain 
any  anti-Germans  or  any  of  the  former  Bratiano  min- 
istry. This  insolence  is  greatly  resented,  and  the  king 
has  ordered  the  chief  of  the  Roumanian  staff  to  declare 
at  the  outset  that  negotiations  can  be  conducted  only 
on  principles  in  force  between  independent  states. 

Germany's  attitude  seems  to  indicate  that  her  terms 
will  be  harsh,  which  may  cause  a  change  of  the  Rou- 
manian sentiment,  particularly  if  the  Entente  military 
operations  become  more  successful. 

{Feb.  15.)    We  understand  delegates  have  been  sent 


174  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

to  Bucharest  to  ask  extension  of  the  armistice  one 
month.  General  Averescu  appears  to  have  little  faith 
in  the  eventual  success  of  the  Allies.  It  is  estimated 
that  there  are  800,000  English  on  the  French  front,  and 
the  Roumanian  Minister  in  Washington  advises  that 
500,000  Americans  will  be  there  next  fall. 

In  a  conference  today,  General  Averescu  declares 
that  no  possible  benefit  can  acme  to  the  Allies  through 
any  further  sacrifices  by  Roumania.  He  says  the  public 
is  strong  for  peace,  and  he  favors  it  also,  though  he  will 
not  accept  any  conditions  humiliating  to  Roumania  or 
the  Allies.  The  Germans  have  extended  the  time  for 
opening  negotiations  to  February  22. 

{Feb.  18.)  The  news  came  today  of  the  break  of 
the  armistice  between  Russia  and  the  Central  Powers. 
The  result  can  plainly  be  foreseen:  Russia  will  be  unable 
to  offer  any  resistance,  and  the  enemy  will  take  possession 
of  Ukrainia,  and  then  Roumania  will  be  completely 
surrounded  by  her  foes. 

Also,  the  Maximalist  Committee  at  Odessa,  pre- 
sided over  by  the  Roumano-Bulgarian  agitator,  Rakow- 
sky,  has  sent  an  ultimatum  to  Roumania  to  remove  her 
troops  from  Bessarabia,  and  is  making  other  unacceptable 
demands.  This  confirms  the  belief  that  in  case  of  a 
German  offensive,  the  Roumanians  will  not  be  able  to 
retreat  to  Russia. 

We  are  forced  to  realize  that  no  effort  on  our  part 
can  delay  the  conclusion  of  a  separate  peace,  unless  the 
German  demands  are  so  intolerable  as  to  be  rejected, 
but  even  then,  resistance  can  be  of  only  brief  duration. 

{Feb.  20.)  Without  awaiting  Roumania's  answer  to 
their  ultimatum,  the  Odessa  Maximalists  have  seized 
and  imprisoned  the  Roumanians  in  that  city,  many  of 


At  the  American  Consulate  in  Belgrade 


Talk 

OF 

Bu 


INC.  WITH 
THE  EnC, 
LGARIA 


English  Lieutenant  who  was  at  the  Head 
LiSH   War    Prisoners"  Camp  in   Philippopolis, 


PEACE  TERMS   IMPOSED  ON   ROUMANIA       175 

whom  are  confined  in  the  hold  of  the  ship  "Sinope," 
where  they  are  subjected  to  inhuman  treatment.  We 
have  telegraphed  our  consuls  to  protest  energetically, 
and  have  urged  our  governments  to  do  everything  pos- 
sible to  secure  the  freedom  of  these  prisoners  and  their 
return  to  this  country. 

It  has  been  arranged  that  General  Averescu  will 
meet  Czemin  and  von  Kuhlman  the  day  after  tomorrow, 
and  will  learn  the  German  terms.  The  Prime  Minister 
says  that  if  they  are  beyond  acceptance,  the  blame  for  an 
"unnecessary  slaughter"  will  rest  on  the  Central  Powers. 

The  Prime  Minister  has  been  advised  of  the  arrest 
of  General  Coanda,  in  Kiev,  and  we  are  making  every 
effort  to  secure  his  release. 

{Feb.  25.)  General  Averescu  has  returned  from 
Bucharest,  where  the  negotiations  were  halted  by  the 
abrupt  departure  of  von  Kuhlman  and  Czemin  for 
Brest-Litovsk.  Up  to  that  point,  the  time  had  been 
taken  up  mainly  by  Austrian  Minister  Czemin's  speech, 
in  which  he  violently  assailed  Roumania's  attitude  during 
her  neutrality,  also  the  treatment  he  received  when  he 
was  obliged  to  leave  Bucharest.  There  was  a  hint  of 
contest  of  Roumania's  rights  in  Dobrudja,  and  also  of 
a  heavy  levy  on  wheat  and  petroleum. 

{Feb.  26.)  General  Averescu  sums  up  Czemin's 
utterances  as  follows:  "The  last  moment  has  arrived 
when  it  will  be  possible  for  a  peace  which  will  guarantee 
the  existence  of  Roumania  and  the  Roumanian  crown. 
If  she  does  not  bow  to  the  terms,  she  will  be  cmshed 
within  one  month,  and  will  disappear  forever  from  the 
map  of  Europe.  Roumania  need  not  be  surprised  at 
receiving  the  same  treatment  she  would  accord  Hungary, 
if  Roumanian  troops  occupied  Budapest." 

12 


176  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Just  before  his  departure,  Count  Czemin  demanded 
an  audience  with  King  Ferdinand,  in  order  to  hand  him 
personal  communications  from  his  sovereign.  After 
much  hesitation,  the  king  has  granted  the  audience  for 
tomorrow,  in  Moldavia. 

Today,  as  on  previous  days,  all  discussion  by  the 
Roumanians  seems  to  get  back  to  two  points,  namely, 
that  resistance  could  not  possibly  be  prolonged  more 
than  two  months,  and  that  retreat  into  Russia  is  impos- 
sible. And  as  on  previous  days,  we  have  urged  the 
possibility  of  improvement  in  Russian  conditions,  and 
the  probability  of  great  changes  in  favor  of  the  Allies 
on  the  other  fronts. 

{Feb.  28.)  The  Prime  Minister,  returning  from 
Bacau,  states  that  Czemin  demanded  of  the  king  that 
Dobrudja  should  be  ceded,  and  not  to  Bulgaria  alone 
but  to  the  fourfold  alliance.  In  readjustment  of  the 
border  in  favor  of  Austro-Hungary,  the  Fortes  de  Fer, 
the  Jiu  Pass  and  the  district  of  Domavatra  must  be 
given  up.  Also  the  wheat  and  petroleum  are  to  be  taken, 
which  represent  the  greatest  wealth  of  the  country. 

General  Averescu  says  only  two  courses  are  open 
for  Roumania:  either  capitulate,  and  lose  independence 
for  an  indefinite  period,  as  well  as  lose  her  valuable 
material  resources,  or  fight  to  the  end,  which  would  only 
postpone  the  same  conditions.  In  either  case,  there 
would  be  no  benefit  for  the  Allies.  He  reiterates  that 
the  Allies  cannot  aid  Roumania,  and  that  retreat  through 
Russia  is  impossible,  and  asks  if,  in  the  circumstances, 
the  peace  is  not  better  for  the  Allies  as  well  as  for 
Roumania.  We  adhere  to  our  fully  declared  belief  in 
fighting  to  the  end. 


PEACE  TERMS   IMPOSED  ON   ROUMANIA       177 

(March  1.)  We  have  urged  our  governments  to  give 
fullest  publicity  to  the  German  ultimatum,  also  to  the 
threat  to  divide  Roumania  between  Hungary  and 
Bulgaria. 

{March  2.)  A  Polish  brigade  has  deserted  the  Aus- 
trian service,  and  is  now  in  the  north  of  Bessarabia. 
The  commander  has  sent  one  of  his  officers  to  us  to  state 
that  the  Poles  are  highly  indignant  over  the  Ukrainian 
peace.  They  wish  full  publicity  of  their  sentiment  in 
all  the  Allied  countries,  and  to  have  it  understood  that 
the  freedom  of  Poland,  giving  her  an  outlet  to  the  sea, 
is  one  of  the  great  objects  of  the  war.  We  desire  the 
aid  of  this  brigade,  and  other  troops  at  the  front,  and  we 
have  therefore  stated  that,  according  to  the  chiefs  of 
the  Allied  governments,  the  freedom  of  Poland  is  one 
of  the  chief  objects  of  the  Entente,  and  they  will  not 
recognize  any  treaties  imposed  on  her  by  the  enemy. 
The  Poles  state  that  a  good  part  of  the  Austrian  troops 
on  the  Italian  front  are  Poles,  and  these  will  be  favorably 
affected  by  a  proper  declaration  by  the  Allies. 

{March  4.)  At  a  Crown  meeting,  the  king  stated 
that  personally  he  was  in  favor  of  fighting  to  the  end, 
but  as  a  constitutional  monarch  he  must  defer  to  the 
advice  of  the  responsible  ministry.  The  crown  prince,  in 
his  own  name  and  that  of  his  mother,  Queen  Marie, 
declared  most  earnestly  in  favor  of  war  to  the  end. 
Thereupon  the  Prime  Minister  tendered  his  resigna- 
tion, but  later  on,  at  the  request  of  the  king,  he  with- 
drew it. 

The  Germans  have  made  new  demands,  and  ampli- 
fied their  former  ones.  We  have  asked  our  governments 
for  authority  to  formally  express  the  sympathy  of  our 
countries,  with  the  assurance  that  the  good  will  of  the 


178  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Allies  shall  not  be  lessened  when  the  hour  of  the  Peace 
Conference  arrives. 

{March  9.)  Day  by  day,  the  Central  Powers  have 
extended  their  demands.  Today  we  are  informed  that 
Count  Czemin,  contrary  to  previous  assurances,  now 
states  that  our  military  missions  may  not  depart  at  once 
in  safety,  but  will  be  held  in  quarantine  thirty  days. 
These  missions,  together  with  the  members  of  the 
American  Red  Cross,  protested  against  the  thirty 
days'  quarantine  and  have  decided  to  leave  today  for 
Russia.  The  king  has  assured  us  that  he  will  not  accept 
any  conditions  dishonoring  Roumania,  and  it  is  a  point 
of  honor  with  her  that  the  officers  of  the  Allies  receive 
safe  conduct. 

{March  11.)  The  military  missions  left  yesterday, 
and  today  the  Prime  Minister  informed  us  that  the 
Central  Powers  had  yielded  to  the  protest,  and  promised 
to  facilitate  their  return.  However,  they  advised  a 
delay  of  ten  to  fifteen  days  until  the  railroads  were 
repaired. 

{March  12.)  Count  Czemin  having  gone  to  Vienna, 
the  peace  negotiations  will  be  discontinued  until  March 
14.  Coupled  with  their  former  demands,  the  Central 
Powers  will  make  the  following  conditions: 

(1)  Monopoly  of  wheat  exports  for  from  five  to  ten 
years. 

(2)  Cession  with  contract  to  a  German  company  of 
the  petroleum  fields  of  the  state. 

(3)  Control  of  the  railroads  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

(4)  Equality  of  rights  of  Catholic  and  Orthodox 
churches. 

(5)  Equal  civil  and  political  rights  for  the  Jews. 


Minister  Vopicka,  Consul  Oeneral  Murphy,  Colonel 
Yates  and  Captain  Klepal,  Visiting  the  Camp  of 
English  War  Prisoners  at  Plovdivo.   Philipi'Opolis 


1  ^ 


.  A 


^ 


Detention  Caam'  of  Eniu.ish  War  Prisoners 
at  Philipp(^polis 


PEACE  TERMS   IMPOSED   ON   ROUMANIA       179 

General  Averescu  having  failed  to  properly  defend 
Roumanian  rights  in  recent  negotiations,  the  king  has 
summoned  Mr.  Marghiloman  from  Bucharest,  and 
requested  him  to  form  a  new  ministry,  stating  that  one 
of  its  principles  must  be  the  maintenance  of  amicable 
relations  with  the  Entente.  The  Germans  would  prefer 
to  treat  with  General  Averescu,  regarding  him  as  more 
favorable  to  their  interests. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

CZECHO-SLOVAKS   IN  RUSSIA  — VALOROUS  DEEDS  AND 
INVALUABLE  AID  TO  ALLIES 

{March  13,  1918) 

CONFIDENTIAL  advices  from  Bucharest  are  that 
the  Central  Powers  are  more  than  ever  confident 
of  ultimate  victory,  because  of  their  easy  success  in 
Russia,  and  the  large  quantity  of  food  stuffs  they  will 
be  able  to  obtain  there.  In  order  to  counteract  the 
effect  of  this  on  the  Roumanians,  we  have  requested 
our  governments  to  give  us  full  information  regarding 
the  interior  conditions  of  the  Central  Powers,  as  well 
as  the  extent  of  the  resources  they  will  acquire  in  Russia. 
It  is  also  important  that  we  be  advised  of  the  prospects 
for  protection  of  the  Transiberian  railroad. 

I  sent  three  special  telegrams  to  my  government 
urging  such  protection  there,  either  with  our  own  soldiers 
or  those  of  Japan,  and  I  have  received  assurance  that 
the  situation  is  not  so  bad  as  I  believe,  and  that  the 
government  will  keep  it  in  constant  view. 

At  that  time  the  most  feasible  solution  seemed  to  be 
an  arrangement  v/ith  the  Japanese,  as  they  had  an  army 
ready  for  immediate  action,  but  our  government  appeared 
to  prefer  postponement  of  such  an  arrangement  until 
it  was  absolutely  necessary.  The  Roumanian  govern- 
ment, and  my  colleagues  and  I,  had  been  anxious  to 
have  the  Czecho-Slovaks  in  Russia  brought  to  Bessarabia 
to  guard  the  railroads  and  the  provisions  which  the  Allies 
had  furnished  for  the  Roumanian  army. 

When  Professor  Masaryk,  the  present  president  of 
the  Czecho-Slovak  Republic,  was  in  Jassy,  in  January, 

180 


CZECHO-SLOVAKS   IN   RUSSIA  181 

1918,  we  discussed  the  matter  and  endeavored  to  have 
the  plan  carried  out,  although  he  said:  "You  have  not 
enough  food  for  yourselves.  How  can  you  provide  for 
our  soldiers  in  addition?"  I  sent  a  telegram  to  the 
Czecho- Slovak  commander  through  the  English  consul  in 
Kiev,  assuring  him  that  the  other  allied  ministers  and 
I  had  funds  and  authority  to  provide  fully  for  them. 
As  this  was  not  answered,  probably  the  telegram  did 
not  reach  its  destination.  Owing  to  the  strike  of  the 
Bolshevik  railroad  men,  it  was  impossible  for  the  troops 
to  come.  However,  they  performed  most  valuable  ser- 
vices in  Russia. 

Many  of  the  Czecho-Slovaks  were  enlisted  with  the 
Russians,  especially  under  Generals  Brussiloff,  Douk- 
onine  and  Alexeieff,  and  many  times  they  achieved 
glorious  victories  over  the  Germans  and  Austrians.  As 
soon  as  Ukrainia  declared  its  independence,  it  announced 
its  intent  to  make  a  separate  peace  with  the  Central 
Powers.  The  Bolsheviki  in  Moscow  opposed  this,  but 
the  Ukrainians  were  not  disposed  to  take  orders  from  a 
government  that  they  felt  was  going  to  pieces. 

The  Czecho-Slovaks  were  between  two  fires — on 
one  side  the  Bolsheviki,  and  on  the  other  the  Ukrain- 
ians, from  which  perilous  position  they  were  rescued 
by  the  splendid  diplomacy  of  the  Czecho-Slovak  National 
Assembly.  The  Bolsheviki  in  Ukrainia  and  Moscow 
remained  passive,  expecting  that  the  Czecho-Slovaks 
would  imbibe  the  Bolshevik  doctrines,  but  in  this  they 
were  greatly  disappointed.  The  Czecho-Slovaks  declared 
that  they  would  take  no  part  in  Russian  affairs,  but 
would  continue  to  fight  German  autocracy  and  Austrian 
oppression. 

Their  position  became  very  difficult  after  the  election 


182  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

of  a  new  Germanophile  Hetman  (governor)  for  Ukrainia. 
After  this  the  Czecho-Slovak  National  Assembly  severed 
relations  with  Ukrainia,  and  decided  to  remove  the 
troops  to  the  western  front  in  France,  as  they  could  not 
join  the  army  of  the  Allies  in  the  north,  there  being 
neither  supplies  nor  railroad  transportation  obtainable. 
The  Ukrainians  and  Bolsheviki  consented  to  the  remov- 
al of  the  Czecho-Slovak  troops  over  the  Transiberian 
railroad  to  Vladivostock. 

Emperor  Karl,  of  Austro-Hungary,  made  overtures 
to  the  Czecho-Slovak  army  for  an  honorable  surrender, 
assuring  them  amnesty  and  promising  autonomy  for 
Czecho-Slovakia,  but  they  had  no  faith  in  Austrian 
promises.  They  knew  the  old  emperor  never  kept  his 
promises,  and  they  placed  no  faith  in  his  successor. 
In  fact,  they  believed,  if  they  were  caught  by  the  incom- 
ing Austrian  army,  that  they  would  be  shot  or  imprisoned. 

On  February  15,  1918,  they  started  to  march  on  foot 
to  the  banks  of  the  river  Dneiper.  They  were  well 
supplied  with  ammunition  which  they  had  taken  from 
the  Russian  warehouses,  but  they  had  no  food,  clothing, 
shoes,  fodder  or  field  kitchens.  Nevertheless,  this  ragged 
looking  army  was  composed  of  intelligent  men,  some 
eighty  per  cent  being  university  students.  Each  division 
had  a  library  of  several  hundred  books,  and  they  also 
published  an  eight-page  daily  paper. 

They  were  obliged  to  pull  their  wagons  themselves, 
as  their  horses  were  too  weak  to  be  of  service.  They 
lived  on  horse  meat,  dogs  and  frogs.  They  roasted 
barley  and  made  a  substitute  for  coffee  from  it,  and  they 
ate  the  grounds.  They  did  not  rob  the  peasants,  but 
when  they  arrived  in  a  village  where  the  inhabitants 
were  imwilling  to  give  them  food,  they  remained  quietly 


Royal  Palack  at  Sixaia,  Roumania 


CZECHO-SLOVAKS   IN   RUSSIA  183 

in  the  public  square,  sometimes  from  morning  until 
night,  until  the  villagers  had  compassion  and  brought 
them  food.  They  paid  for  everything  they  received, 
and  their  conduct  in  every  respect  assured  a  favorable 
reception  for  those  who  came  after  them.  When  they 
were  able  to  get  grain  they  took  it  to  the  nearest  mill 
to  be  ground  and  they  said,  **We  have  no  need  of  tooth 
powder,  because  the  millstones  are  so  soft  they  leave 
enough  grit  in  the  flour  to  keep  our  teeth  clean  and  sharp." 

After  twenty  days  of  marching,  they  encountered  a 
division  of  German  troops  at  Bakmatch,  who  had 
expected  to  overcome  and  annihilate  the  Czecho-Slovaks, 
but  to  their  great  surprise  the  Czecho-Slovaks  turned 
the  tables  by  beginning  the  attack  themselves.  The 
battle  lasted  four  days,  after  which  the  Germans  retreated 
in  disorder,  leaving  two  thousand  dead  on  the  battle 
field,  while  the  Czecho-Slovaks  lost  only  four  hundred 
men.  After  this  defeat,  the  Germans  were  very  wary 
of  the  Czecho-Slovaks,  whose  army  rumor  declared  was 
300,000  strong. 

At  Bakmatch,  the  Czecho-Slovaks  took  possession 
of  one  hundred  engines  and  three  thousand  cars,  which 
had  been  abandoned  by  the  Bolsheviki  when  the  Germans 
approached.  These  cars  contained  all  kinds  of  goods 
and  army  material,  such  as  rifles,  flour,  sugar,  uniforms, 
airplanes  and  provisions  of  every  description.  All  these, 
and  a  number  of  other  abandoned  trains  discovered  as 
they  proceeded,  were  saved  for  the  Russians  from  German 
seizure. 

The  Bolsheviki  knew  that  the  Czecho-Slovaks  would 
not  support  their  policy  of  anarchy  and  destruction, 
and  they  feared  this  army  might  join  the  conservative 
Russian  elements. 


184  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

At  Kurks,  the  Bolshevik  commander  of  that  station 
demanded  that  they  surrender  their  arms,  and  after 
some  delay  the  machine  guns  and  batteries  were  given  up. 

On  March  20,  Professor  Masaryk  obtained  written 
permission  from  Lenine  and  Trotsky  for  passage  of  the 
Czecho-Slovak  troops,  but  when  they  arrived  at  Pensa 
they  were  notified  by  the  local  Soviets  that  they  could 
not  proceed  without  complete  disarmament.  After  two 
days,  the  Czecho-Slovaks  were  obliged  to  accept  the 
proposition  that  three  battalions  of  each  regiment 
should  completely  disarm,  and  only  one  battalion  was 
to  retain  rifles,  with  one  hundred  cartridges  for  each 
rifle,  and  also  one  machine  gun.  As  much  as  possible, 
the  soldiers  evaded  this  by  hiding  many  rifles,  cartridges 
and  hand  grenades  in  the  cars. 

This  was  a  scheme  of  the  Germans,  who  were  at 
that  time  dictators  in  Moscow,  to  leave  the  Czecho- 
slovaks at  the  mercy  of  the  German,  Austrian  and 
Magyar  ex-prisoners  in  Siberia,  who,  as  was  later  dis- 
covered, had  been  freely  armed  and  organized  for  the 
purpose  of  exterminating  the  Czecho-Slovaks  in  Siberia. 

Some  of  the  first  trains  arrived  in  Vladivostock  by 
April  25,  but  the  majority  of  them  were  greatly  delayed 
all  along  the  route.  They  had  frequent  encounters  with 
the  Bolsheviki,  who  demanded  their  complete  disarma- 
ment. The  Czecho-Slovaks  were  victorious  from  Pensa 
to  Vladivostock. 

At  Chaliabinsk,  many  delegates  and  members  of 
the  Czecho-Slovak  National  Assembly  held  a  consulta- 
tion. The  Bolsheviki  were  endeavoring  to  check  the 
movements  of  the  troops,  and  endeavored  to  divert 
them  to  Murmansk,  where  they  expected  to  entrap 
them. 


CZECHO-SLOVAKS   IN   RUSSIA  185 

Three  trainloads  of  German  and  Austro-Hungarian 
ex-prisoners  reached  the  Siberian  station  when  a  Czecho- 
slovak echelon  was  there.  The  ex-prisoners  complained 
that  they  were  starving,  so  the  Czecho-Slovaks  shared 
their  rations,  giving  them  all  they  could  spare,  but 
instead  of  being  grateful,  these  ex-prisoners  were  arro- 
gant and  insulting,  and  as  one  trainload  of  them  was 
departing,  a  German  in  the  last  car  flung  a  big  iron  bar 
into  a  group  of  Czecho-Slovak  soldiers,  seriously  wound- 
ing one  of  them. 

The  wrath  of  the  Czecho-Slovaks  was  without  bounds. 
They  pursued  the  train  and  compelled  the  engineer  to 
stop,  and  the  man  who  threw  the  iron  bar  was  beaten 
so  severely  that  he  died  from  his  injuries.  The  Soviet 
garrison,  two  thousand  men  strong,  ordered  an  inquiry, 
and  placed  a  number  of  the  Czecho-Slovaks  under 
arrest  as  witnesses.  The  Czecho-Slovaks  sent  an  armed 
company  and  demanded  immediate  release  of  the  impris- 
oned men.  The  Soviet  not  only  released  the  men  but 
apologized  as  well. 

The  Soviets  claimed  that  instructions  from  Moscow 
were  being  awaited,  and  the  Czecho-Slovaks  were  de- 
tained about  ten  days.  Then  a  telegraph  operator  on 
the  latter  side  intercepted  a  telegram  from  Trotski 
giving  instructions  to  the  Soviet  at  that  place,  and  to 
the  Bolsheviki  everywhere,  to  arrest  and  disarm  all 
Czecho-Slovakian  troops,  and  thereafter  if  any  were 
found  with  a  rifle  they  were  to  be  shot.  This  was  the 
customary  Bolshevik  method,  but  it  was  accepted  by 
the  Czecho-Slovaks  as  a  plain  declaration  of  war,  and 
they  proceeded  immediately  to  take  possession  of  the 
stations,  seizing  all  the  provisions  and  war  material 
and  disarming  the  Bolshevik  garrisons. 


186  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

At  the  city  of  Chaliabinsk,  the  Soviet  garrison  had 
orders  to  imprison  the  Czecho-Slovaks  the  next  morning, 
but  during  the  night  the  latter  surrounded  the  barracks 
of  the  garrison  and  fired  a  salvo  in  the  windows.  In 
fifteen  minutes  the  barracks  were  in  their  possession  and 
the  whole  garrison  made  prisoners,  and  next  they  took 
possession  of  the  entire  town  of  about  70,000  inhabitants. 
The  people  of  the  city  were  greatly  relieved,  and  warmly 
thanked  the  Czecho-Slovaks  for  liberating  them  from 
the  Bolshevik  misrule.  The  Czecho-Slovaks  also  took 
charge  of  the  Siberian  railroad,  keeping  it  open  for  the 
Allies,  and  preventing  the  Germans  and  Bolsheviki 
from  obtaining  supplies  from  Siberia.  Likewise  they 
controlled  navigation  on  the  Volga  River.  They  also 
were  the  means  of  keeping  in  Russia  the  many  thousands 
of  German  and  Austro-Hungarian  war  prisoners  whose 
release  had  been  arranged  by  the  Central  Powers.  The 
Czecho-Slovaks  prevented  the  enemy  from  organizing 
a  new  army  of  these  prisoners  of  war.  The  apprecia- 
tion of  the  Allies  was  shown  by  their  ready  consent  to 
giving  independence  to  Czecho-Slovakia. 

The  Czecho-Slovak  army  stayed  at  its  post  until 
the  end  of  the  war  in  1919.  Several  thousands  of 
them  were  killed  or  died  from  sickness.  During  their 
encounters,  they  were  reinforced  by  the  Polish,  Serbian 
and  Roumanian  war  prisoners,  as  well  as  anti-Bolshe- 
vik Russians,  so  that  at  one  time  their  army  was  over 
100,000  strong.  Towards  the  end  of  the  Allies'  campaign 
in  Siberia,  they  were  also  fighting  at  the  side  of  the 
American  troops. 


King  Ferdinand  I  of  Roumania 


CHAPTER  XX 

NEW  ROUMANIAN  CABINET  —  PEACE  TERMS  DEPRIVING 
COUNTRY  OF  MOST  VALUABLE  RESOURCES 

{March  16,  1918) 

MR.  MARGHILOMAN  is  expected  in  Jassy,  but 
it  appears  doubtful  that  he  will  accept  the  new 
ministry.  In  this  case,  one  will  probably  be  formed  of 
the  generals  and  officials,  who  are  likely  to  accept  the 
conditions  imposed  by  the  enemy  without  discussion. 
The  German  sympathizers  are  doing  everything  possible 
to  retain  General  Averescu,  and  the  internal  dissension 
which  is  likely  to  result  will  be  a  favorable  factor  for 
the  Central  Powers.  It  is  to  be  noted  that  neither  of 
the  two  great  parties  favorable  to  the  Entente  have 
consented  to  take  part  in  the  negotiations. 

{March  17.)  The  Prime  Minister  informed  us  of 
the  protest  of  the  German  staff  against  alleged  propa- 
ganda, by  officers  of  the  Allies,  among  the  troops  of  the 
Central  Powers.  We  answered  that  this  charge  was 
without  foundation,  as  the  Allied  officers  on  the  Rou- 
manian front  have  at  all  times  worn  their  national 
uniforms,  and  the  only  ones  that  remained  have  been 
in  Jassy  ever  since  the  opening  of  negotiations.  This 
protest  indicates  the  attitude  of  the  authorities  of  the 
Central  Powers  towards  the  Allied  legations. 

Mr.  Marghiloman  has  arrived,  and  has  consented 
to  form  the  new  ministr^^  While  there  is  no  doubt  of 
the  attitude  of  any  ministry  which  he  will  form,  the 
conditions,  in  any  event,  will  place  the  Roumanian 
government  wholly  in  the  povver  of  the  Germans.  The 
king  has  received  a  telegram  from  Bucharest,  stating 

187 


188  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

that  Marshal  von  Mackensen  declares  that  the  minister- 
ial crisis  cannot  affect  the  proceedings  of  negotiations, 
and  consequently  all  the  conditions  mentioned  by  the 
Central  Powers  must  be  accepted  by  the  signature  of 
Roumanian  plenipotentiaries  before  noon  on  the  19th 
of  this  month,  and  if  they  are  not  accepted  by  that 
time,  the  terms  will  be  made  still  harder.  Also  he 
demands  that  General  Averescu  shall  be  a  member  of 
the  new  cabinet. 

Likewise,  in  addition  to  the  six  Entente  sympathizers 
who  have  asked  to  be  sent  to  Switzerland,  the  Austrian 
delegate  has  asked  that  about  thirty  other  persons  also 
be  sent  out  of  the  country.  The  most  important  one  of 
the  six  was  Mr.  Take  Jonescu,  and  among  the  thirty 
others  are  the  brothers  Bratiano,  several  of  their  former 
intimates,  and  a  number  of  high  officials  of  the  court 
and  the  state. 

The  character  of  the  Austro-German  demands  plainly 
indicates  a  disposition  to  reduce  Roumania  to  a  condition 
of  slavery,  at  least  until  the  end  of  the  general  war. 

{March  19.)  Mr.  Marghiloman's  cabinet  has  been 
formed  and  the  members  have  taken  their  oaths  this 
morning.  It  is  composed  of  very  ordinary  men  except 
the  Minister  of  ^Foreign  Affairs,  Mr.  M.  C.  Arion,  who 
has  been  a  minister  several  times,  and  although  he 
remained  in  Bucharest,  he  has  not  been  unfriendly  to 
the  Entente. 

{March  22.)  The  Central  Powers  impose  on  the 
Roumanians  a  contract  for  the  concession  of  the  exploita- 
tion and  sale  of  petroleum,  v/hich  embraces  the  complete 
control  of  this  industry,  and  seems  a  disguised  means 
of  involving  all  private  Roumanian  interests  in  the 
petroleum  business,  and  also  to  acquire  any  kind  of 


NEW  ROUMANIAN  CABINET  189 

property  throughout  the  country.  The  contract  stip- 
ulates that  for  a  period  of  ninety-nine  years  the  exclusive 
rights  to  exploit  will  be  given  to  a  society  to  be  indicated 
by  the  Central  Powers.  The  present  concessions  will 
not  be  renewed,  and  will  go  to  the  new  society  at  the 
expiration  of  their  term. 

This  society  will  have  the  use  of  all  present  con- 
nections and  installations  belonging  to  the  state,  and 
will  be  allowed  to  establish  others  as  they  see  fit. 
For  this  purpose,  they  may  dispossess  any  individuals 
without  having  to  prove  the  public  utility  of  their  con- 
templated work.  Thus  there  will  be  no  place  in  the 
country  that  they  cannot  invade  on  the  pretext  of 
establishing  a  railway  or  road.  Any  disagreements  will 
be  arranged  by  arbitration.  If  the  two  parties  to  a 
dispute  cannot  agree  on  an  arbitrator,  it  will  be  arranged 
by  the  Tribunal  of  Leipzig.  Any  fault  will  be  brought 
before  the  Tribunal  of  Bucharest  or  the  Tribunal  of 
Berlin,  according  to  the  wish  of  the  defense.  By  this 
means  there  will  be  no  chance  of  discrimination  in  favor 
of  the  Roumanians. 

The  capital  of  the  company,  which  will  monopolize 
the  petroleum  trade,  will  be  more  than  three-fourths 
Austro-German  and  the  rest  Roumanian.  This  company 
will  not  be  under  the  Roumanian  laws  governing  foreign 
associations.  The  organization  will  dispose  of  all  the 
petroleum  produced  by  individuals,  or  other  societies, 
at  its  own  prices,  and  in  exchange  for  bonds.  Any 
new  installations  by  others  are  subject  to  the  society's 
approval.  It  will  also  have  a  monopoly  of  the  export 
of  petroleum  and  its  products.  By  this  means  Rou- 
mania  will  be  deprived  of  the  most  valuable  of  her  natural 
resources,  for  the  benefit  of  a   foreign  country.    The 


190  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Austro-German  companies  will  have  as  many  rights  as 
the  Roumanian  state,  and  even  more.  The  Roumanian 
government  is  required  to  ratify  all  these  concessions. 

Information  from  Southern  Russia  is  that  the  Ger- 
mans continue  to  advance  without  resistance  on  the 
part  of  the  Russians.  They  have  recruited  a  great 
number  of  late  Russian  prisoners,  who  have  been  under 
German  instruction  for  a  year,  and  also  the  Austro- 
German  prisoners  they  have  found  there.  They  have 
also  started  organizing  a  Ukrainian  army,  and  expect 
soon  to  occupy  the  Donetz,  where  there  is  an  abundance 
of  raw  material,  which  they  lack. 

In  these  circumstances,  and  as  the  departure  of  the 
Allied  missions  from  Russian  territory  is  regarded  as 
an  abdication  by  the  Entente,  it  appears  that  an  ener- 
getic and  important  military  action  will  be  the  only 
means  of  uniting  the  different  elements  which  are  still 
favorable.  To  be  thoroughly  effective,  this  movement 
should  start  from  the  extreme  East,  and  the  majority 
of  the  troops  would  have  to  be  Japanese. 

{March  26.)  A  courier  dispatched  to  Switzerland 
by  the  Swiss  Legation  has  been  stopped  by  orders 
of  von  Mackensen,  and  compelled  to  return  to  Jassy. 
The  reason  given  by  the  German  staff  is  the  desire  to 
completely  isolate  Roumania.  If  they  carry  this  further 
it  will  make  it  impossible  for  us  to  correspond  with  our 
governments.  By  taking  the  wireless  our  only  means 
of  communication  will  be  cut  off. 

{March  30.)  In  addition  to  previous  demands,  the 
Central  Powers  have  given  a  memorandum  to  the 
Roumanian  government  of  the  following  requirements: 

(1)  Reestablishment  of  the  commercial  conventions 
adapting  them  to  the  new  state  of  affairs,  with  reserva- 


TiLEAjEN  Valley.     View  of  Monastery 


Room  in  the  Royal  Palace  in  Sinaia 


NEW  ROUMANIAN  CABINET  191 

tion  of  modifications  that  might  be  required  by  the 
customs  rules  between  the  Central  Powers. 

(2)  Concession  of  rights  in  order  to  safeguard  the 
financial  interests. 

(3)  Cancellation  of  privileges  that  had  been  granted 
during  the  war  to  another  state,  and  concession  of  the 
same  privileges  to  the  Central  Powers. 

(4)  Judiciary  convention  between  Roumania  and 
Austro-Hungary. 

(5)  Convention  regarding  protection  of  trademarks. 

(6)  Damages  granted  to  interned  civilians. 

(7)  Cooperation  of  Roumania  in  a  new  navigation 
act  for  the  Danube  River,  and  changes  in  the  European 
commission. 

It  is  apparent  that  the  concession  of  rights  for  the 
defense  of  the  financial  interests  signifies  the  complete 
control  by  the  enemy  of  all  economic  resources  of  the 
country. 

The  protection  of  trade-marks  will  probably  afford 
opportunity  for  the  Germans  to  imitate  manufactured 
goods  of  the  Allies. 

The  new  navigation  act  is  construed  as  indicating 
a  removal  of  the  former  international  commission,  and 
its  replacement  by  appointees  of  the  Central  Powers. 

{March  31.)  Developments  in  Southern  Russia 
appear  very  unfavorable  to  the  Allies'  interests.  The 
Central  Powers  intend  to  extend  arbitrarily  the  borders 
of  Ukrainia  to  all  the  districts  which  they  wish  to  exploit. 
They  comprise  the  Black  Sea  district,  part  of  Bessarabia, 
the  Don  River,  Crimea,  and  Caucasia,  thus  occupying 
the  route  to  Persia  and  India.  Odessa  is  intended  to  be 
a  free  city  under  Austro-German  control. 

The  Austrians  and  Germans  disagree  regarding  polit- 

13 


192  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

ical  ruling  of  Russia.  The  Austrians,  being  less  ambi- 
tious, are  in  favor  of  a  nominally  independent  Ukrainia, 
while  the  Germans  are  in  favor  of  a  federal  Russia. 
By  their  acts,  the  Austro-Germans  are  generally  received 
as  liberators  in  the  cities.  In  the  country  districts  they 
are  seizing  all  the  provisions,  but  they  meet  with  oppo- 
sition, and  are  sometimes  killed  by  peasants  who  were 
former  soldiers. 

The  chief  of  the  food  service  estimates  that  the 
Central  Powers  stocks  have  been  increased  fully  twenty 
per  cent  already  acquired  in  Russia,  and  this  increase  will 
be  vastly  greater  by  September,  when  the  new  crops  are 
due.  It  seems  probable  that  the  acts  of  the  Austro- 
Germans  in  seeking  to  greatly  increase  their  own  supplies 
at  the  expense  of  the  Russians  will  cause  an  uprising  in 
favor  of  the  Allies,  and  facilitate  interference  on  their 

part. 

(April  2.)  Mr.  Marghiloman,  who  has  returned 
from  Bucharest,  thmks  the  Austro-Germans,  having 
hastened  the  demobilization  of  the  Roumanian  army 
and  arrived  at  an  understanding  of  the  territorial  and 
economic  questions,  will  delay  conclusion  of  the  peace 
negotiations  in  order  that  the  bulk  of  their  troops  may 
remain  in  the  occupied  territory.  The  attitude  of  the 
enemy  negotiators  is  almost  unbearable.  Czemin  con- 
stantly threatens  drastic  action  in  Bessarabia  if  Rou- 
mania  does  not  accept  all  the  conditions.  Members  of 
the  cabinet  are  now  feeling  that  the  only  ultimate  salva- 
tion of  Roumania  will  lie  in  success  of  the  Allies. 

We  believe  none  of  our  governments  will  accept 
the  proposed  changes  in  the  Danube  Commission,  and 
are  awaiting  instructions  from  them  for  us  to  make 
protest  to  the  Roumanian  government. 


NEW  ROUMANIAN  CABINET  193 

{April  3.)  We  are  advised  that  the  German  staff 
is  considering  having  the  French  Military  Mission  at 
Constantinople  interned,  which  is  contrary  to  the  agree- 
ment made  with  the  Central  Powers  at  the  beginning  of 
negotiations. 

A  radio  from  Lyons  states  that  Japanese  interference 
in  Siberia  depends  on  Russian  consent.  This  news  has 
made  a  very  favorable  impression  here,  as  it  is  believed 
such  consent  has  already  been  given. 

{April  6.)  The  Prime  Minister  states  that  nego- 
tiations are  being  conducted  by  the  Germans  and  the 
Hungarians,  Messrs.  Graz  and  Stereni,  the  Austrians 
passively  following  their  lead.  The  Hungarians  are  very 
severe  with  Czemin,  and  reproach  him  for  any  conces- 
sions he  is  disposed  to  make. 

Mr.  Marghiloman  will  go  to  Bucharest  in  three  or 
four  days  to  sign  the  peace.  He  assures  us  that  the  war 
material  and  equipment  will  remain  untouched  in  the 
depots,  and  that  property  located  in  the  occupied 
territory  will  be  guarded  by  Roumanians. 

The  direction  of  the  society  for  the  exploitation  of 
the  monopoly  of  petroleum  will  be  exclusively  German. 
Austro-Hungary  will  have  only  a  financial  participation, 
in  the  same  degree  as  the  Roumanians. 

No  part  of  the  territory  still  free  will  be  occupied  by 
the  Central  Powers.  As  regards  the  occupied  territor>^ 
they  should  in  principle  move  out  only  at  the  general 
peace  conclusion.  But  they  would  start  to  move  out 
gradually  at  the  signing  of  the  peace  with  Roumania. 
Mr.  Marghiloman  hopes  that  he  will  be  able  to  rush  the 
removal  of  the  German  troops  in  case  no  violent  mani- 
festations against  them  take  place. 

Dobrudja  will  be  definitely  acquired  by  Bulgaria  at 


194  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

the  general  peace,  with  the  exception  of  the  city  and 
part  of  Constanza,  and  the  railroad  from  Constanza  to 
Cemavoda,  which  would  remain  international. 

Mr.  Marghiloman  realizes  that  the  peace  will  bring 
enormous  economic  advantages  to  Germany.  The  terms 
give  rectifications  of  borders  to  Hungary  and  nothing 
to  Austria,  and  considerable  advantages  to  Bulgaria. 
He  thinks  that  the  peace  conditions  could  not  be  very 
much  bettered  after  the  mistakes  made  by  the  previous 
cabinet.  He  seems  to  believe  that  the  general  peace 
will  come  after  a  series  of  separate  peace  treaties,  and 
that  each  country  will  be  too  much  occupied  with  its 
own  interests  to  interfere  in  favor  of  Roumania. 

We  have  again  asked  information  from  Mr.  Marghilo- 
man as  regards  the  sending  back  to  their  countries  of 
the  Allied  military  missions  that  remained  in  Roumania. 
He  has  renewed  his  promise  that  he  will  do  everything 
possible  to  settle  this  matter  on  the  basis  of  the  previous 
statements. 


Diplomats  at  the  Funeral  of  King  Carol  of  Roumania 


Roumanian  Cottage 


CHAPTER  XXI 

UNION    OF   BESSARABIA    AND   ROUMANIA  — UKRAINIA 
BEING  GERMANIZED 

{April  8,   1918) 

THE  union  of  Bessarabia  and  Roumania  seems  to 
be  approaching.  The  Prime  Minister  left  yester- 
day for  Kishenev  in  order  to  hasten  it.  We  have  not 
interfered  with  the  negotiations  to  this  effect.  If  the 
event  is  accomplished,  it  will  be  necessary  to  publish 
the  sympathy  of  the  Allies  to  this  effect,  because  we  will 
be  entitled  to  the  credit  which  undoubtedly  will  be 
claimed  by  the  Austro-Germans. 

Our  attention  has  been  called  to  the  Roumanian 
agents  in  France.  They  are  receiving  no  compensation 
from  their  government,  and  are  obliged  to  live  on  their 
own  resources,  which  for  the  majority  of  them  are 
insufficient.  It  v/ill  be  necessary  to  arrange  what  can 
be  done  for  them,  taking  into  consideration  the  sacri- 
fices of  Roumania  for  the  cause  of  the  Allies. 

{April  9.)  In  order  to  avoid  giving  the  Germans 
a  pretext  to  take  away  our  wireless  station,  it  will  be 
necessary  to  reproduce  as  private  information  news 
received  from  Bucharest  by  way  of  Switzerland,  or 
from  Vienna  or  Berlin,  also,  after  a  certain  delay,  all 
information  contained  in  our  telegrams  and  used  for 
propaganda. 

We  wrote  the  Prime  Minister  today  as  follows: 

"According  to  a  communication  received  by  the 
administration  of  the  wireless  station,  by  reason  of 
congestion  this  service  cannot  be  used  by  the  Foreign 
Legations  until  Tuesday  next. 

195 


196  SECRETS   OF  THE   BALKANS 

"Also  we  note  that  the  German  government  has 
requested  the  Roumanian  government  to  suppress  the 
service  of  code  telegrams  forwarded  by  the  legations. 

"We  do  not  doubt,  in  case  this  information  should- 
be  confirmed,  that  your  Excellency  will  continue  to  insure 
the  free  use  of  thJs  service,  which  is  the  only  means  for 
the  foreign  representatives  of  communication  with  their 
countries." 

{April  10.)  The  union  of  Bessarabia  and  Roumania 
was  proclaimed  yesterday  at  Kishenev  by  the  Bessara- 
bian  Assembly,  under  conditions  of  a  liberal  autonomy. 

As  it  is  understood  from  a  recent  speech  of  Czernin, 
the  Central  Powers  have  declared  that  they  are  not 
against  this  union.  We  confirm  that,  in  order  to  prevent 
them  from  getting  the  credit  for  this  event,  we  shall 
receive  it  with  sympathy,  the  more  as  this  application 
of  the  nationalist  principle,  approved  by  a  free  assembly, 
seems  to  be  in  conformity  with  the  program  of  the 
Entente. 

The  events  also  seem  to  be  in  conformity  with  our 
interests,  Bessarabia  being  too  weak  to  guarantee  its 
independence  by  its  own  means,  and  being  cut  off  from 
Russia,  having  no  other  alternative  but  to  join  Roumania 
or  Ukrainia,  which  voluntarily  became  a  German  colony. 

Through  their  projects  regarding  the  traffic  in  cereals, 
and  their  control  of  the  railroads  and  navigation  on  the 
river  Danube,  the  Central  Powers  are  entirely  the  masters 
in  Roumania.  As  regards  the  means  of  communication, 
it  has  been  indicated  that  they  will  have  to  follow  the 
Austro-German  system  of  railroads  and  rivers.  Rou- 
mania must  agree  from  now  on  that  she  will  establish 
the  necessary  roads  to  lengthen  not  only  railroads  exist- 
ing on  the  other  side  of  the  borders,  but  those  that  will 


UNION  OF  BESSARABIA  AND  ROUMANIA      197 

be  constructed  during  a  certain  period.  The  tariffs  will 
be  uniform  and  cannot  bring  any  protection  to  the  com- 
merce or  national  liberty. 

The  European  commission  of  the  Danube  River 
will  be  replaced  for  the  full  actual  rights,  by  a  com- 
mission representing  only  the  countries  through  which 
the  river  passes.  Roumania  will  have  to  grant  to  Ger- 
man and  Austro-Hungarian  shipping  concerns  all  the 
necessary  territory  for  the  installation  of  their  agencies, 
warehouses,  etc.  In  the  Danubian  ports,  the  installa- 
tion effected  by  Germany  during  the  war  will  be  granted 
for  a  period  of  fifty  years. 

Under  the  pretense  of  equality,  the  Central  Powers 
are  completely  mastering  the  commercial  resources  of 
Roumania. 

A  Hungarian  commissioner  has  the  right  of  perma- 
nent inspection  of  the  Roumanian  railroads,  and  therefore 
he  can  examine  at  any  time  into  the  whole  administration. 

The  compact  relative  to  agricultural  products  of  all 
kinds  states  that  the  surplus  over  local  consumption 
must  be  sold  to  the  Central  Powers  for  a  period  of  five 
years  after  the  general  peace  treaty.  The  quantities  to 
be  considered  as  surplus  will  be  determined  the  first 
year  by  the  Austro-Germans,  after  consultation  with 
the  Roumanian  government,  and  for  the  following  years 
by  the  Roumanian  government  in  collaboration  with 
Austro-German  representatives. 

This  will  mean  the  rationing  of  Roumania  by  the 
Central  Powers  to  their  benefit  after  the  peace,  and  an 
unlimited  war  indemnity. 

(April  12.)  I  had  a  long  interview  with  the  Prime 
Minister,  Mr.  Marghiloman,  and  during  our  conversa- 
tion he  repeated  that  he  believed  in  the  victory  of  the 


198  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Central  Powers,  and  that  whatever  may  be  done  for 
Roumania  will  be  done  by  the  Central  Powers. 

I  argued  with  him  for  an  hour,  telling  him  that  our 
country  went  to  war  for  the  sake  of  humanity,  and  that 
until  that  purpose  was  achieved  we  would  stay  in  the 
fray.  We  would  spare  no  efforts  to  hasten  this  victory 
by  sending  troops  to  the  Western  front,  and  if  necessary, 
to  Russia,  and  we  would  stay  in  the  war  until  we  were 
victorious.  The  Germans  might  win  one,  two,  five  or 
ten  battles,  but  the  end  would  be  the  same,  they  would  lose 
the  war,  and  the  Allies  would  see  to  it  that  the  supplies 
for  the  German  army  from  Russia  were  stopped. 

{April  13.)  According  to  information  regarding  the 
situation  in  Ukrainia,  it  is  as  follows: 

(1)  Ukrainia  has  been  completely  cut  off  from  any 
communication  with  Russia. 

(2)  Ukrainian  officers  are  gradually  being  replaced 
by  Austro-Germans. 

(3)  German  and  Austrian  currency  must  be  accepted. 

(4)  An  order  has  been  issued  that  any  Entente  officer 
who  might  eventually  be  in  Ukrainia  be  arrested.  To 
our  knowledge,  all  our  officers  have  left  Ukrainia. 

(5)  The  houses  of  the  consuls  in  Odessa  have  been 
examined  in  order  to  lodge  Austro-German  officers  there. 

(6)  There  are  rumors  that  the  German  government 
intends  to  suppress  the  Rada  of  Kiev  and  establish  a 
German  government  in  its  place. 

It  can  be  stated  that  Ukrainia  is  being  transformed 
into  a  German  colony. 

{April  14.)  We  are  advised  from  a  good  source 
that  Mr.  Marghiloman  is  more  and  more  convinced  of 
the  victory  of  the  Central  Powers.  Having  faith,  no 
doubt,  in  information  from  German  sources,  he  expresses 


Jon.  I.  C.  Bratianu 


UNION  OF  BESSARABIA  AND   ROUMANIA      199 

his  opinion  that  the  last  events  on  the  Western  front 
prove  the  weakness  of  the  Entente,  and  that  they  will 
not  be  able  to  resist  the  Central  Powers,  even  before 
using  the  natural  resources  of  Russia. 

Mr.  Marghiloman  adds  that  Roumania  will  have 
nothing  to  expect  from  the  Allies,  notwithstanding  the 
enormous  sacrifices  that  she  has  had  to  bear  for  her 
participation.  He  bases  his  statement  on  information 
received  in  Bucharest,  according  to  which  the  United 
States  would  have  made  an  agreement  with  Austro- 
Hungary  to  let  them  act  as  they  wished  in  the  Balkans. 

In  regard  to  the  strictly  confidential  character  of 
this  information,  it  should  not  be  referred  to  in  tele- 
grams for  the  press.  But  it  will  be  of  great  advantage 
to  get  a  statement  from  the  United  States  government 
denying  the  negotiations  with  Austro-Hungary,  and 
especially  any  agreement  concerning  the  Balkans.  This 
statement  should  immediately  be  extensively  published. 
It  would  be  more  efficient  if  the  other  Allies  would  join. 
It  must  be  observed  that  any  wires  giving  the  military 
situation  should  be  written  in  such  way  as  to  reestablish 
faith  in  the  victory  of  the  Entente. 

{April  15.)  According  to  authorized  information 
from  Bucharest,  confirmed  from  all  sides,  the  trouble 
between  the  different  nationalities  of  Austro-Hungary, 
and  especially  betw^een  the  Austrians  and  Hungarians, 
becomes  worse  each  day.  In  regard  to  an  Austrian 
offensive  on  the  Italian  front,  and  a  participation  of 
the  Austro-Hungarian  troops  in  the  German  offensive 
in  France,  w^e  thinlc  it  advisable  to  take  advantage  of 
this  state  of  mind.  We  think  that  the  agents  of  those 
different  nationalities  will  succeed  in  disbanding  the 
recruited  units. 


200  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

{April  17.)  The  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  has 
notified  us,  in  writing,  of  the  union  of  Bessarabia  with 
Roumania.  A  simple  acknowledgment  could  only  have 
made  an  unfavorable  impression,  and  we  have  preferred 
to  await  instructions  from  our  governments  to  decide 
the  way  in  which  to  reply.  As  we  have  already  explained, 
the  union  of  Bessarabia  proclaimed  by  representatives 
of  the  population  is  in  conformity  with  the  principles 
and  interests  of  the  Entente,  so  far  as  it  will  not  lead 
Roumania  to  interfere  further  with  Southern  Russia. 
We  must  avoid  furnishing  the  Austro-Germans  with  a 
pretext  to  get  the  full  credit  for  this  event  through  a 
reserved  attitude  on  our  part. 

It  is  up  to  our  governments  to  appreciate  how  far 
it  will  be  necessary  to  keep  up  connections  with  Russia. 
We  think  that  if  they  have  no  reasons  for  objection,  it 
will  be  advisable  to  authorize  us  to  state  orally  that 
the  Entente  looks  with  sympathy  on  an  event  in  conform- 
ity with  the  principle  of  nationalism,  and  the  rights  of 
the  people  to  choose  for  themselves.  We  would  of  course 
give  the  Roumanian  government  to  understand  that  any 
previous  stipulations  will  be  revised  at  the  Peace  Con- 
ference by  our  governments,  and  as  regards  Bessarabia, 
they  will  take  into  consideration  the  attitude  of  Rou- 
mania from  now  on  until  that  time.  We  all  four  ministers 
were  personally  in  favor  of  this  union. 

{April  23.)  We  have  received  the  following  tele- 
gram from  Mr.  Marghiloman  as  an  answer  to  the  let- 
ter of  our  colleague,  Sir  George  Barclay,  the  English 
Minister : 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  reply  to  your  note  which  your 
Excellency  has  sent  me  last  night  in  his  name  and  the 
names  of  Messrs.  Vopicka,  de  Saint  Aulaire  and  Baron 


UNION  OF   BESSARABIA   AND   ROUMANIA      201 

Fasciotti.  The  new  circumstances  created  by  our  peace 
treaty  and  our  desire  to  observe  a  scrupulous  neutrality 
makes  it  our  duty  to  accept  plain  telegrams  only  for 
transmission.  The  Legations  will  be  assured  of  com- 
munication with  their  governments  under  these  con- 
ditions, as  I  am  sure  that  the  Legations  do  not  want  in 
any  way  to  forward  military  news  regarding  the  states 
with  which  their  countries  continue  to  be  in  state  of  war." 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  sent  to  the  Prime 
Minister  on  the  24th  of  April: 

"We  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your 
wire  of  the  23d  inst.,  in  answer  to  our  note  of  the  22d 
relative  to  the  use  of  the  wireless  station. 

"As  regards  the  question  of  principle,  we  beg  to 
confirm  the  contents  of  our  previous  communication. 

"However,  we  recognize  that  the  Roumanian  govern- 
ment is  in  an  abnormal  situation  as  a  result  of  this  fact, 
but  we  express  the  wish  that  it  will  spare  no  efforts  to 
prevent  the  situation  affecting  the  fundamental  rights  of 
all  independent  states." 

During  the  time  that  we  were  unable  to  send  cipher 
telegrams,  we  were  obliged  to  send  our  messages  the 
best  way  we  could,  either  by  airplanes,  by  couriers  or 
otherwise.  In  one  case  we  were  "double  crossed"  by 
a  Russian  pilot,  who  received  a  big  amount  of  money 
for  his  trip  from  Jassy  to  Salonika,  and  after  he  had 
received  the  mail,  instead  of  going  to  Salonika,  he  went 
straight  to  Bucharest,  where  he  gave  all  our  mail  to 
the  Germans. 

In  this  mail  there  was  a  letter  for  Mr.  G.  Seidel, 
manager  of  the  Standard  Oil  Co.,  in  Roumania,  in  which 
one  of  his  men  in  Jassy  informed  him  of  the  petroleum 


202  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

business  in  Jassy  and  Moldavia.    He  was  immediately 
arrested  and  brought  before  the  military  court. 

When  I  was  informed  about  this  affair  the  next  day, 
I  immediately  went  to  the  Prime  Minister,  asking  him 
to  intercede  in  favor  of  Mr.  Seidel,  and  if  possible  have 
him  set  free,  as  I  knew  he  was  not  guilty  of  any  act 
charged  against  him  by  the  Germans.  Mr.  Marghiloman 
kindly  promised  me  to  do  so,  and  to  this  action  of  mine, 
and  the  employment  of  an  able  Germanophile  lawyer, 
who  was  paid  royally,  Mr.  Seidel  is  indebted  for  his 
discharge  and  liberty. 


Prince  B.  Stirbey 


CHAPTER   XXII 

NEW  GERMAN  DEMANDS  ON  ROUMANIA 

{April  24,  1918) 

ACCORDING  to  information,  the  Germans  try  to 
create  trouble  in  Walachia  and  Moldavia  in  order 
to  maintain  and  enlarge  their  occupied  territory.  They 
even  intend  to  abolish  the  crown,  and  the  German 
military  authorities  talk  clearly  in  this  respect.  They 
also  officially  distribute  to  the  population  of  the  occupied 
territory,  and  to  the  demobilized  soldiers  who  return 
home,-  violent  pamphlets  against  the  king  and  the 
politicians  responsible  for  the  war.  This  is  an  evident 
attempt  to  start  a  revolution  in  Roumania  in  order  to 
strengthen  German  hold  on  that  country.  To  avoid 
revealing  the  official  source  of  this  informiation,  it  would 
be  advisable  to  have  it  first  published  in  the  press  of 
neutral  states,  Switzerland  especially,  and  from  this 
the  Allied  wires  would  emanate. 

{April  25.)  Ukrainia  will  probably  appoint  a  pleni- 
potentiary minister  to  Roumania.  We  intend  to  sustain 
only  personal  relations  with  him,  and  to  state  that  the 
question  of  recognition  of  Ukrainia  is  beyond  our  author- 
ity, and  can  only  be  settled  by  our  governments. 

The  Germans  request  that  the  use  of  the  wireless 
station  for  code  telegrams  be  discontinued,  not  only 
for  the  Allied  legations,  but  also  for  the  neutral  legations 
and  the  Roumanian  government.  Such  a  request  shows 
the  desire  they  have  to  hide  the  violence  and  the  exploita- 
tions in  Roumania,  which  are  without  precedent  even 
in  the  African  colonies. 

203 


204  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Among  the  new  demands  of  the  Germans,  the  follow- 
ing can  be  stated: 

(1)  A  project  of  monopoly  for  the  exploitation  of 
large  properties,  which  would  reduce  the  Roumanian 
population  to  complete  slavery  for  the  benefit  of  Ger- 
man capitalists. 

(2)  The  absorbing  of  the  total  agricultural  produc- 
tion without  taking  the  local  needs  into  consideration, 
unless  to  extend  the  system  of  requisitions  to  Moldavia 
and  Bessarabia,  as  done  in  Walachia,  where  this  system 
will  continue  to  prevail  after  the  peace.  These  exports 
will  be  paid  for  by  the  Roumanian  government  for  the 
account  of  the  Central  Powers,  who  will  reimburse 
Roumania  when  they  think  fit  to  do  so. 

(3)  Monopoly  for  the  exploitation  of  the  ports,  rivers, 
shipping  concerns,  etc.,  in  favor  of  the  Central  Powers. 

(4)  Control  of  the  railroads,  post,  telegraphs  and 
telephones,  also  in  Moldavia  and  Bessarabia,  contrary 
to  the  previous  assurances  given. 

(5)  Forced  recruiting  of  Roumanian  laborers  to  be 
used  by  the  Central  Powers.  This  clause  is  disguised 
deportation. 

(6)  The  Roumanian  government  will  be  responsible 
for  all  damages  caused  through  the  occupation,  includ- 
ing the  requisitions  made  from  the  civil  population 
through  the  Central  Powers,  and  the  exchange  of  the 
paper  money  issued  by  the  Central  Powers,  amounting 
to  over  three  milliards  of  lei.  And  the  Germans  demand 
that  the  treaty  shall  mention  that  they  impose  neither 
indemnities  nor  taxes. 

(7)  The  Roumanian  prisoners  will  only  be  released 
gradually  against  payment  of  money  or  wheat. 

(8)  The  prosecution  or  deportation  of  all  Ententophile 
politicians. 


NEW  GERMAN   DEMANDS  ON  ROUMANIA     205 

(9)  The  retirement  of  all  officers  who  have  distin- 
guished themselves  in  the  present  war. 

The  German  press  of  Bucharest  advocates  quite 
clearly  that  all  politicians  favoring  the  Entente  should 
be  murdered.  From  this  information  an  opinion  can 
be  formed  regarding  the  character  of  the  first  peace 
which  the  Central  Powers  are  imposing.  Even  in  un- 
occupied territory,  the  press,  in  the  pay  of  the  Germans, 
starts  an  injurious  campaign  against  the  Allies,  with  the 
tolerance  of  a  censor,  who  on  the  other  hand  is  without 
mercy  as  regards  the  attacks  directed  against  the  Central 
Powers. 

{May  5.)  According  to  some  information,  the  Ger- 
mans are  trying  to  obtain  authority  from  the  Roumanian 
government  to  negotiate  with  the  Russian  authorities 
the  return  of  the  Roumanian  funds  in  Moscow.  The 
best  way  to  counteract  this  maneuver  would  be,  if  the 
relations  of  the  Allies  with  the  Russian  authorities  in 
Moscow  permit,  to  arrange  with  them  that  this  money 
be  transferred  to  a  safe  place,  and  sufficiently  far 
away. 

The  transfer  of  the  funds  can  be  justified  for  reasons 
of  security,  and  can  be  represented  to  the  Roumanian 
government  as  an  amicable  proceeding.  This  action 
would  have  a  double  advantage,  to  deprive  the  Germans 
of  the  money,  and  to  give  us  a  valuable  deposit.  It 
would  also  increase  the  authority  of  the  Allies  here  in 
showing  that  they  are  capable  of  action  in  Russia. 

{May  9.)  We  requested  this  telegram  sent  to  our 
consuls  general  at  Moscow: 

''The  peace  has  been  signed  on  the  7th  day  of  this 
month.  The  press  publishes  the  text  of  the  treaty, 
which  will  no  doubt  be  sent  on  by  wire.     The  Parlia- 


206  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

ment  has  been  dissolved  and  the  new  one  is  to  have  a 
meeting  on  the  17th  of  June." 

{May  15.)  The  Allied  ministers,  having  instruc- 
tions, addressed  the  following  note  to  the  Roumanian 
government : 

"As  per  order  of  our  governments,  we  have  the 
honor  to  protest  to  the  Roumanian  government  the 
prohibition  on  our  forwarding  code  telegrams. 

"Through  his  telegram  dated  from  Bucharest  the  23d 
of  April,  his  Excellency  the  Prime  Minister  has  informed 
the  Minister  of  Great  Britain  that  the  action  he  took 
was  on  account  of  the  desire  to  observe  the  strictest 
neutrality. 

"The  Allied  governments  cannot  accept  this  view, 
and  have  instructed  their  representatives  in  Jassy  to 
inform  the  Roumanian  government  to  this  effect. 

"  In  fact  the  prohibition  to  forward  cipher  telegrams 
can  only  prejudice  the  Entente  Powers,  the  represen- 
tatives of  the  countries  with  which  they  are  at  war 
having  every  facility  for  communicating  with  their  gov- 
ernments. The  Roumanian  government  in  this  way, 
far  from  keeping  its  neutrality,  goes  beyond  it  in  favor 
of  one  of  the  belligerent  parties. 

"  During  the  war  the  question  of  code  telegrams  has 
been  raised  twice,  in  the  United  States  and  in  Spain. 
In  those  two  countries  the  representatives  of  the  Central 
Powers  were  in  a  similar  situation  as  the  Allied  missions 
in  Roumania,  i.  e.,  that  they  could  only  communicate 
with  their  countries  by  means  of  wireless. 

"In  order  to  keep  their  neutrality  and  to  respect 
the  rights  of  the  diplomatic  missions  of  foreign  coun- 
tries, the  governments  of  Washington  and  Madrid  have 
always  authorized  their  telegraph  stations  to  forward 


Take  Jonescu 


NEW  GERMAN   DEMANDS  ON   ROUMANIA     207 

code  telegrams  which  were  entrusted  to  their  care.  It 
was  a  fact  though  that  in  Spain  the  principal  object 
of  the  German  telegrams  was  to  give  information  of  the 
movements  of  the  trading  vessels  of  belligerent  or 
neutral  countries  to  their  submarines,  which  vessels 
were  sunk  without  distinction. 

**The  Roumanian  government  cannot  lose  sight  of 
Article  VIII  of  the  Convention  of  the  Hague  (1907) 
which  does  not  oblige  neutral  countries  to  prohibit  the 
use  of  the  wireless  stations  in  their  territory  to  a  belli- 
gerent party. 

"The  principles  of  justice,  and  the  conventional 
right,  make  it  a  duty  for  the  Roumanian  government 
to  revise  this  decision,  on  the  subject  of  which  we  have 
expressed  our  reservations  by  our  letter  of  the  24th 
of  April,  and  in  consequence  of  which  we  have  been 
instructed  to  formulate  the  most  formal  protest." 

(May  16.)  To  complete  the  information  already 
transmitted,  we  mention  among  the  conditions  of  the 
Roumanian  peace  those  that  show  better  the  monstrous 
hypocrisy  and  the  voracity  of  German  imperialism. 

The  Germans  have  demanded  that  in  the  peace 
treaty  it  should  appear  that  there  are  no  annexations 
or  indemnities.  As  regards  the  annexations,  the  dis- 
posing of  Dobrudja  and  the  rectifications  of  the  border 
all  along  the  Carpathian  Mountains  will  mean  about 
26,000  square  kilometers  and  800,000  inhabitants,  or 
a  loss  to  Roumania  of  about  one-tenth  of  the  total 
population. 

The  reasons  given,  justifying  these  rectifications, 
are  unacceptable.  In  fact,  the  Central  Powers  are 
victorious,  and  Roumania,  becoming  a  German  colony, 
cannot  be  a  danger  to  them.    However,  they  cannot 

14 


208  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

forget  that  the  victory  of  the  Entente  will  return  Rou- 
mania  its  old  borders.  The  truth  is  that  these  rectifi- 
cations comprise  the  richest  forest  of  the  Carpathians, 
and  will  extend  the  Hungarian  hunting  territories;  it 
will  also  enable  them  to  get  hold  of  the  wood,  the  wealth 
of  the  Forestry  Societies,  in  which  the  Germans  and 
Austro-Hungarians  are  very  much  interested.  It  would 
be  interesting  to  reveal  this  aim  in  the  Socialist  circles 
of  Germany  and  Austro-Hungary. 

The  Germans  claim  that  these  rectifications  com- 
prise only  naked  districts.  But  in  this  way  they  take 
170  villages  with  a  population  of  over  130,000  inhabit- 
ants. This  part  of  the  population  represents  the  purest 
Roumanian  race,  those  who  have  sought  refuge  in  the 
highest  mountains  during  the  successive  invasions  and 
the  Turkish  domination. 

As  regards  the  indemnities,  the  Germans  state  that 
this  expression  only  applies  to  the  war  expenses  and  the 
money  due  to  the  families  of  the  victims  of  the  war. 
They  refuse  to  consider  as  indemnity  the  different  taxes 
imposed  on  Roumania,  of  which  the  total  is  about  four 
milHards  of  lei. 

This  figure  has  of  course  been  fixed  arbitrarily, 
without  taking  into  consideration  the  ancient  war  right. 
Germany  especially  requires  considerable  sums  for  the 
keeping  of  the  Roumanian  prisoners,  half  of  whom 
have  died  of  hunger  and  bad  treatment.  The  Rou- 
manian government  will  also  have  to  pay  the  requisi- 
tions made  not  only  for  the  requirements  of  the  occupa- 
tion troops,  but  also  for  the  requirements  of  the  civil 
population  of  the  Central  Empires.  They  will  also 
have  to  reimburse  the  issues  of  paper  money  made  or 
to  be  made,  as  long  as  the  occupation  lasts,  without 
any  limit  being  fixed. 


NEW  GERMAN   DEMANDS  ON   ROUMANIA     209 

The  conditions  of  monopoly  in  favor  of  Germany 
for  the  exploitation  and  sale  of  petroleum,  also  the  export 
of  cereals,  represent  another  unlimited  war  indemnity. 
For  cereals  only  for  the  present  year,  they  consider  that 
this  indemnity  will  amount  to  one  milliard  lei,  this 
being  the  difference  between  the  real  value  and  the 
price  fixed  by  Germany. 

It  is  not  to  be  overlooked  that  the  Austro- Germans 
will  have  the  right  to  determine  the  quantity  to  be 
exported,  that  this  quantity  will  be  determined  not 
according  to  the  amount  of  the  crop,  but  according  to 
the  needs  of  the  Central  Powers.  This  clause  permits 
that  after  the  peace  they  can  impose  rations  on  Rou- 
mania  to  the  extent  of  famine.  In  fact,  the  cost  of  the 
exported  cereals  will  be  advanced  by  the  Roumanian 
government,  for  which  the  Central  Powers  will  open 
an  account  current,  which  they  will  settle  or  not,  accord- 
ing to  their  pleasure. 

The  treaty  states  a  delay  for  the  approval  of  the 
peace  by  the  Roumanian  government,  but  this  does 
not  concern  the  question  of  rectifications.  The  dullness 
of  one  of  the  interested  governments  will  suffice  to  make 
the  advantages  of  the  Austro-Germans  in  the  present 
circumstances  last  indefinitely.  We  can  also  mention 
that  the  peace  of  Bucharest  has  not  yet  been  ratified 
by  the  Bulgarian  government. 

The  ratification  by  the  Roumanian  government  will 
have  no  legal  basis.  In  fact,  this  government  has  been 
formed  under  the  German  bayonet,  without  the  help 
of  the  two  great  historical  parties,  and  without  the 
participation  of  the  soldiers,  who  have  not  had  time  to 
return  to  their  homes.  The  choice  of  the  candidates 
has  been  submitted  to  the  Germans,  notwithstanding 


210  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

the  guaranties  of  the  Prime  Minister  that  no  Entento- 
phile  parties  will  take  part  in  the  elections. 

Far  from  partially  freeing  Roumania,  the  peace  will 
end  in  slavery  and  ruin.  Six  enemy  divisions  will  con- 
tinue to  occupy  her  territory,  even  after  the  ratifica- 
tion, which  the  Germans  can  delay  as  long  as  they  wish. 
The  railroads,  the  navigation  on  the  rivers,  the  post 
and  telegraph  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  Germans.  A 
German  delegate  is  placed  in  each  Ministry,  "at  the 
request  of  the  Roumanian  government,"  according  to 
the  style  imposed  by  Germany.  Roumania  will  only 
keep  police  powers.  The  war  material  and  the  ammu- 
nition are  placed  in  depots  situated  in  the  occupied 
territory  under  the  guard  of  the  German  staff. 

The  Germans  have  created  a  German  company  for 
agricultural  exploitations,  with  a  capital  of  eighty 
millions.  This  society,  by  means  of  disguised  expro- 
priation under  the  form  of  leasing  for  a  long  term, 
recognized  by  the  peace  treaty  and  in  favor  of  the 
occupation,  tries  to  get  a  monopoly  of  agricultural 
products  of  Roumania.  This  is  another  speculation  of 
the  Austro-German  capitalists  that  should  be  revealed 
to  the  Social  Democracy. 

Orders  issued  by  the  German  military  authorities 
before  the  signature  of  the  peace  treaty  force  the  popu- 
lation of  the  occupied  territory,  between  the  ages  of 
fourteen  and  sixty,  to  work  as  ordered  by  the  German 
authorities.  Disobedience  of  these  orders  will  be  fol- 
lowed by  deportation,  imprisonment  from  one  to  five 
years,  and  in  certain  unspecified  cases,  death. 

Summing  up,  the  treaty  imposed  on  Roumania  is 
the  most  shameless  contradiction  of  all  German  state- 
ments.    It    means    the    disguised    annexation    of    the 


NiCU    FiLIPESCU 


NEW  GERMAN   DEMANDS  ON   ROUMANIA     211 

whole  country,  the  robbery  of  the  pubhc  and  private 
property,  and  after  the  peace,  the  most  conscienceless 
exploitation.  They  make  a  prison  of  Roumania,  where 
all  the  people  are  condemned  to  hard  labor  for  the 
profit  of  the  enemy. 

This  instance  of  a  German  peace  deserves  to  be 
considered  the  more  as  the  German  delegates,  to  the 
astonishment  of  the  Roumanian  delegates,  have  stated 
that  these  conditions  are  very  moderate  compared  with 
those  intended  for  the  treaty  to  be  imposed  on  France, 
England  and  Italy  after  the  victory  of  the  Central  Powers. 

(May  16.)  The  following  letter  is  addressed  to 
the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  by  the  four  Allied 
ministers: 

"The  Entente  governments  have  learned  that  the 
treaty  signed  in  Bucharest  on  the  7th  of  this  month, 
between  Roumania  and  the  Central  Powers,  contains 
clauses  contrary  to  the  provisions  of  the  international 
agreements  which  they  have  signed. 

"The  treaty  of  Bucharest  mentions,  in  fact,  that  the 
river  Danube,  starting  from  Braila,  will  be  placed  under 
a  new  commission  that  will  only  represent  states  through 
which  the  river  passes,  or  on  the  coasts  of  the  Black 
Sea.  The  establishment  of  this  new  commission,  the 
same  as  any  alterations  of  the  European  Commission 
of  the  Danube,  without  the  participation  of  the  signers 
of  the  prevailing  agreements,  is  a  violation  of  these 
covenants. 

"Article  II  of  the  treaty  of  London,  on  the  10th  of 
March,  1883,  determined  the  proceeding  for  the  modi- 
fication of  the  rules  of  the  Commission. 

"Article  XV  of  the  treaty  of  Paris  of  March,  1856, 
established  that  the  principles  of  the  Act  of  the  Congress 


212  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

of  Vienna,  designed  to  govern  the  navigation  of  the  rivers 
crossing  or  separating  several  countries,  would  in  future 
also  apply  to  the  river  Danube  and  its  mouths. 

''The  provisions  of  the  treaty  of  Bucharest  are 
contrary  to  the  conditions  which  rule  the  river  Danube, 
as  they  modify,  and  the  modifications  do  not  take  any 
account  of  the  rules  specially  arranged  to  this  effect. 

"In  these  circumstances,  the  Ministers  of  France, 
Great  Britain  and  Italy  have  the  honor,  by  order  of  their 
governments,  to  bring  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Rou- 
manian government  the  fact  that  the  countries  they 
represent  consider  as  non-existing  any  arrangement 
made  in  regard  to  the  Danube  without  their  approval. 
This  question  can  only  be  settled  at  the  general  peace, 
and  after  agreement  between  all  countries  interested. 

"They  also  make  their  reservations  as  regards  the 
consequences  of  the  provisional  rulings  that  will  be 
applied  until  then." 

{May  17.)  Another  letter  was  sent  to  the  Minister 
of  Foreign  Affairs  as  follows: 

"We  have  the  honor  to  confirm  our  letter  of  the  6th 
of  May  as  regards  the  Russian  war  material,  also  our 
previous  communications,  of  which  you  will  find  copy 
enclosed. 

"As  regards  the  Roumanian  war  material,  we  refer 
to  the  assurances  which  have  been  given  by  the  present 
government,  as  well  as  by  the  previous  governments, 
according  to  which  none  of  this  material  will  be  given 
to  the  enemy. 

"In  presence  of  the  provisions  of  this  treaty  to  this 
effect,  we  insist  that  the  Roumanian  government  take 
the  necessary  steps  to  insure  the  strict  execution  of 
these  agreements." 


NEW   GERMAN   DEMANDS  ON   ROUMANIA     213 

{May  20.)  According  to  information  from  the  occu- 
pied territory,  these  regions  have  been  exploited  by  the 
Germans  with  more  savagery  than  ever,  since  the  signa- 
ture of  the  peace  treaty.  They  have  organized  system- 
atic robbery,  and  anything  that  can  be  used  is  being 
taken  and  sold,  from  foods  and  industrial  installations 
to  clothing  and  fancy  goods.  They  take  the  last  pro- 
visions from  the  peasants,  including  the  maize,  which, 
since  the  German  occupation,  has  replaced  the  wheat. 
The  famine  produces  very  serious  epidemics.  Where 
the  Germans  expect  resistance  of  the  enraged  population, 
they  surround  the  village  with  machine  guns  and  com- 
pel them  to  deliver  their  foods  under  threats  of  general 
massacre. 

In  Ukrainia  and  Poland,  the  Germans  even  remove 
the  rich  soil,  sending  away  many  trains  loaded  with 
black  earth,  destined  to  create  culture  lands  in  the  sandy 
districts  along  the  borders. 

{May  21.)  According  to  the  Roumanian  delegates 
in  Bucharest,  the  German  circles  are  very  pessimistic. 
They  fear  the  failure  of  the  next  offensive  at  the  Western 
front.  They  consider  that  even  if  they  succeed  and 
the  German  troops  reach  the  sea,  the  establishment  of 
a  base  against  England  would  require  too  long  a  delay 
in  regard  to  the  interior  situation  in  the  Central  Em- 
pires, where  there  is  general  discontent,  a  desire  for 
peace,  and  insufficient  food,  which  will  not  permit  con- 
tinuing the  war  for  more  than  a  few  months. 

The  friction  is  getting  worse  between  the  Germans 
and  Austro-Hungarians  on  one  side,  and  the  Turks  and 
Bulgarians  on  the  other.  Mr.  Marghiloman  himself 
recognizes  these  difficulties,  but  states  that  the  unity 
of  direction  in  Germany  will  continue  to  prevail,  and 


214  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

that  he  has  faith  in  the  victory  of  the  Central  Powers. 
Following  is  the  context  of  the  letter  from  the  Rou- 
manian Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs,  in  reply  to  our 
protests  regarding  the  signing  of  the  peace  treaty  by 
Roumania: 

"In  answer  to  your  letter  sent  me  on  the  14th  of 
May,  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  state- 
ment: 

"Notwithstanding  the  generosity  of  principles  which 
the  Allied  Powers  have  often  shown  during  the  World 
War,  this  has  not  prevented  the  ruin  of  Roumania,  left 
to  her  own  resources  in  an  unfortunate  war,  notwith- 
standing her  resistance,  her  numerous  sacrifices  and  the 
courage  of  her  soldiers. 

"At  the  end  of  her  strength,  threatened  in  her  exist- 
ence even,  the  peace  imposed  by  the  Central  Powers  on 
Roumania  was  the  only  means  of  salvation,  and  an 
imperative  duty;  the  Royal  government  must  thus 
consider  this  peace  as  legal  in  all  points,  and  in  conse- 
quence must  feel  bound  by  it." 

{May  23.)    We  have  sent  the  following  letter: 

"Through  our  communication  of  March  16,  we  have 
requested  His  Excellency  the  Prime  Minister  to  appoint 
a  Roumanian  representative  for  the  mixed  commission 
for  the  Russian  material,  and  to  let  us  know  the  date 
on  which  this  commission  will  start  functioning.  Hav- 
ing received  no  reply  to  this  communication,  we  have 
the  honor  to  ask  you  to  let  us  know  whether  we  must 
consider  as  definitely  abandoned  the  principle  admitted 
by  General  Janconvescu  for  the  creation  of  an  Inter- 
national commission  in  charge  of  the  material  which 
the  Russian  army  left  behind. 

"If  this  principle  is  maintained,  we  request  that  its 


Pavilion  at  the  Rack  Track  in  Bucharest 


The  Pavilion  of  the  Queen,  in  Constanza,  Rou.maxia 


NEW  GERMAN   DEMANDS  ON   ROUMANIA     215 

realization  be  no  longer  deferred,  as  each  day  that  goes 
by  will  render  the  task  for  the  International  commission 
more  difficult. 

"We  add  that,  in  regard  to  the  new  conditions  in 
Bessarabia,  we  consider  it  necessary  to  take  the  same 
precautions  for  the  Russian  material  in  this  territory 
as  for  the  material  in  Roumania. 

**  It  is  our  duty  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Roumanian 
government  to  the  responsibiUty  that  will  be  created  by 
each  new  delay  in  the  functioning  of  the  commission, 
the  principle  of  which  has  been  admitted. 

**In  any  case,  we  renew  our  reservations  as  regards 
the  rights  of  the  Allies  in  the  said  material." 

{May  24.)    Letter  from  the  four  Allied  ministers: 

"We  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  the 
letter  which  you  have  addressed  to  us,  dated  the  4th 
of  May,  to  inform  us  of  the  view  of  the  present  Cabinet 
regarding  the  question  of  the  Russian  war  material  in 
Roumania  and  Bessarabia. 

"We  hasten  to  bring  this  communication  to  the 
knowledge  of  our  governments,  but  it  is  our  duty  to 
state  that  from  now  on  we  consider  the  Roumanian 
government  bound  by  agreement  of  the  previous  Cabinets 
to  this  effect. 

"Regarding  the  Roumanian  war  material  in  Russia, 
we  of  course,  from  our  side,  will  maintain  our  previous 
statements  regarding  the  rights  of  Roumania  in  this 
material,  as  it  results  from  paragraph  three  of  our  letter 
of  the  16th  of  March  to  General  Averescu.  We  have 
the  honor  to  communicate  to  you  a  copy  of  this  docu- 
ment, of  which  you  seem  to  have  no  knowledge. 

"Also  confirming  our  reservations  contained  in  our 
letter  of  the  23d  of  April  and  6th  of  May,  we  beg  to 


216  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

State  that  any  verification  and  appraisement  effected 
without  us,  and  contrary  to  the  agreement  already 
accepted  by  the  Roumanian  government,  will  not  be 
recognized  by  us." 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

ROUMANIAN    ELECTIONS    CONTROLLED    BY    GERMANS  — 
INTRIGUE  AGAINST  CROWN 

{May  27,  1918) 

IT  is  necessary  for  the  Entente  to  know  the  exact 
value  of  the  elections  imposed  by  the  Germans,  in 
view  of  the  ratification  of  the  peace  treaty. 

We  recall  that  these  elections  have  been  effected 
under  the  threat  of  German  bayonets,  that  the  impor- 
tant parties  took  no  part  in  them,  and  that  the  list  of 
candidates  formally  agreed  upon  by  Mr.  Marghiloman 
has  been  reduced  by  the  German  authorities.  The 
government  has  had  considerable  difficulty  in  getting 
the  necessary  number  of  candidates  together,  who,  in 
nearly  all  cases,  had  no  opposition.  Notwithstanding 
the  efforts  of  the  German  authorities,  with  the  aid  of 
the  Marghiloman  cabinet,  to  suppress  any  expression 
of  national  feeling,  the  people  both  in  Moldavia  and  the 
occupied  territory  take  advantage  of  every  opportunity 
to  show  their  indignation  at  the  peace  conditions,  and 
their  hope  of  approaching  reparation  due  to  the  final 
triumph  of  the  Allies. 

We  urge  the  necessity  of  considering  what  our  press 
states  regarding  the  events  in  Roumania,  between  a 
cabinet  guided  by  the  Germans  and  the  Roumanian 
people,  whose  aspirations  have  become  closer  to  those 
of  the  Entente  on  account  of  the  terrible  conditions  of 
the  peace,  and  the  union  with  Bessarabia,  which  aspira- 
tions are  directed  towards  Transylvania. 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  the  two  great  parties  who 
wanted  war,  and  who  represent  the  two  organized  parties 

217 


218  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

of  the  country,  the  Liberals  and  the  Conservatives, 
have  remained  true  to  the  Entente  under  the  direction  of 
their  leaders,  Jean  Bratiano  and  Take  Jonescu. 

In  the  present  circumstances,  it  is  preferable  to 
forget  the  mistakes,  perhaps  unavoidable,  that  have 
been  made  during  the  difficulties,  and  which  have  found 
their  punishment  in  the  conditions  of  the  peace  itself. 
The  only  thing  that  counts  is  that  we  keep  in  view  our 
interests,  also  a  full  appreciation  of  the  enormous  sacri- 
fices of  Roumania,  and  to  keep  up  a  certain  spirit  that 
will  bring  the  whole  nation  to  the  side  of  the  Entente 
as  soon  as  circumstances  will  permit.  It  will  thus  be 
necessary  to  grant  to  the  parties  in  favor  of  the  Entente 
great  moral  support  in  our  press,  and  also  a  material 
support. 

As  regards  this  last  point,  it  will  be  advisable  to 
establish  business  relations  between  independent  Rou- 
manian concerns,  which  are  nearly  all  run  by  the  Liberal 
party,  and  the  financial  and  industrial  circles  of  the 
Entente.  To  this  effect,  we  think  that  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  use  the  aid  and  knowledge  of  the  Roumanians 
who  are  at  present  in  Paris  and  London.  This  aid  can 
be  manifested  in  the  form  of  different  missions  and  in 
the  administration.  This  would  from  now  on  have  the 
advantage  of  giving  those  in  favor  of  our  cause  the 
impression  that  we  are  not  abandoning  them,  and  that  we 
are  certain  of  the  future. 

{June  3.)  Mr.  Marghiloman  has  recently  uttered  a 
speech  on  the  occasion  of  the  starting  of  the  electoral 
campaign,  as  follows: 

*'The  new  Parliament's  first  duty  will  be  to  ratify  the 
peace,  then  to  establish  the  responsibilities  as  regards 
the  declaration  of  war  and  its  conduct,  also  the  real 


Roumanian  Street  Peddlers 


ELECTIONS  CONTROLLED  BY  GERMANS       219 

use  of  the  money  it  has  cost.  The  adventurous  poHcies 
of  Bratiano  have  led  to  war.  He  wanted  this  war, 
only  awaiting  a  favorable  opportunity  to  attack  our 
former  Allies.  We  have  been  defeated.  We  must  under- 
stand the  ill  feeling  of  the  victorious  in  order  to  appre- 
ciate the  work  of  the  Roumanian  negotiators.  Impartial 
history  will  bless  those  men  who  have  had  the  courage 
to  sign  this  peace,  which  is  not  a  disadvantage  in  all 
points.  Through  it  a  whole  nation  has  been  returned 
to  its  mother  country,  as  it  is  with  the  cooperation  of 
the  Austro-Germans  that  Bessarabia  has  been  ac- 
quired. 

"Some  people  expected  that  after  the  signing  of  the 
peace  they  would  see  all  the  pre-war  liberties  reestab- 
lished. Let  us  remember  the  fate  of  Holland  and 
Switzerland  before  we  complain." 

Mr.  Marghiloman  then  talked  about  reforms.  The 
alteration  in  agriculture  must  harmonize  v/ith  the  inter- 
ests of  the  different  classes  and  increase  production. 
He  also  implied  permanent  censorship  of  the  press. 
These  declarations  of  the  Prime  Minister  are  in  conform- 
ity with  the  policies  of  the  Central  Powers.  The  actual 
conditions  can  only  become  worse  until  the  general 
peace  or  the  defeat  of  the  Central  Powers. 

According  to  reliable  information,  there  are  two 
clauses  in  the  peace  treaty  not  yet  made  known.  The 
first  involves  the  entrance  of  Roumania  in  the  ZoUverein 
of  the  Central  Powers,  and  the  second  requires  that  all 
legations,  or  at  least  their  military  attaches,  receive 
their  passports  immediately  after  ratification  of  the  peace 
by  the  Roumanian  parliament.  This  would  strengthen 
certain  points  in  the  peace  conditions  which  would  make 
Roumania  practically  a  German  colony. 


220  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

A  Roumanian  diplomat,  who  is  in  sympathy  with 
the  Entente,  advises  us  that  the  Germans  require  that 
the  Roumanian  government  shall  not  appoint  its  min- 
isters to  Paris,  London  and  Washington,  before  estab- 
lishing their  legations  in  the  Central  Powers,  but 
on  the  other  hand  they  refuse  to  receive  Roumanian 
representatives  in  Berlin  and  Vienna,  stating  that  their 
presence  can  only  create  difficulties,  and  that  the  pres- 
ence of  von  Mackensen  in  Bucharest  will  do  for  the 
time  being.  Finally,  as  the  Germans  are  always  intrigu- 
ing against  the  Crown,  they  insist,  in  disregard  of  the 
rules  of  the  constitution,  that  the  command  of  the  army 
be  taken  away  from  the  king  and  given  to  a  committee 
of  generals,  with  the  approval  of  the  Central  Powers. 
The  occupation  of  Roumania  is  no  doubt  a  safeguard 
against  Bolshevism,  and  the  Germans  also  see  there  an 
opportunity  to  exploit  this  rich  country.  They  try  to 
create  trouble  in  Roumania  by  favoring  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Austrians  in  the  north  of  Bessarabia  and  of 
the  Bulgarians  in  the  south. 

We  understand  that  the  blockade  at  Kiev  by  the 
Germans  is  becoming  more  effective  each  day.  Docu- 
ments originating  in  a  pro- Ally  group  have  been  sold  by 
a  Russian  officer  to  the  German  staff,  and  numerous 
arrests  have  resulted.  These  include  the  Greek  and 
Spanish  consuls,  who  represented  the  interests  of  France. 

All  the  government  candidates  for  the  Senate  have 
been  elected.  General  Averescu  has  been  elected  as  an 
independent  candidate  without  any  opposition  from  the 
government.  Only  about  one-third  of  those  inscribed 
have  taken  part  in  the  election,  and  only  two  candidates 
have  had  an  absolute  majority.  This  gives  an  idea  of 
the  strength  of  the  pro-Entente  party. 


ELECTIONS  CONTROLLED  BY  GERMANS      221 

Under  German  pressure,  the  Cabinet  has  issued  a 
decree  making  agricultural  work  compulsory  throughout 
Roumania  for  a  period  of  five  years.  This  applies  to 
all  persons  of  both  sexes,  from  fourteen  to  sixty  years 
of  age,  and  has  been  imposed  by  the  Germans  to  insure 
agricultural  production,  as  the  prices  they  have  fixed 
are  so  low  the  lands  would  not  be  cultivated  except  under 
compulsion.  This  measure  has  caused  great  discontent 
which  is  increased  by  the  attitude  of  the  Cabinet  against 
the  general  right  of  voting. 

The  German  policy  is  designed  to  make  slaves  of 
the  Roumanian  people  after  the  conclusion  of  peace. 
It  includes  the  transfer  of  individuals  from  one  part  of 
the  country  to  another,  according  to  needs.  This  will 
be  the  worst  form  of  slavery,  depriving  people  of  their 
homes  and  dividing  families. 

At  the  inauguration  of  the  new  parliament,  none  of 
the  representatives  of  the  Allies  were  present.  The 
king  had  been  informed  of  our  intention  to  absent  our- 
selves, and  fully  understanding  our  good  reasons,  he 
gave  instructions  that  no  invitations  should  be  sent. 
Therefore,  for  the  first  time,  the  ceremony  took  place 
without  the  presence  of  the  representatives  of  foreign 
or  neutral  countries.  The  king's  address  was  undoubt- 
edly prepared  by  Mr.  Marghiloman  and  the  German 
authorities,  and  in  many  respects  was  far  from  being  a 
true  expression  of  the  real  sentiment.  This  was  illus- 
trated by  the  alteration  of  a  paragraph  which  originally 
read:  "The  manner  in  w^hich  the  countries  with  whom 
we  have  made  peace  have  considered  this  event,  has 
prepared  the  way  for  the  reestablishment  of  our  friend- 
ship as  in  the  past."  In  the  king's  speech,  the  word 
"relations"  was  substituted  for  ''friendship." 


222  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

{June  21.)  The  new  parliament  does  not  in  any 
way  represent  the  country.  In  the  first  place,  the  elec- 
tions were  illegal.  Mr.  Marghiloman  admitted  that  the 
opposition  could  not  conduct  a  free  campaign  in  the 
occupied  territory,  which  comprises  two-thirds  of  the 
whole  territory.  Only  40  per  cent  of  the  legal  voters 
cast  their  votes,  whereas  70  per  cent  voted  in  1914. 
In  this  parliament,  the  opposition  party  comprises  only 
some  half-dozen  senators  and  deputies.  In  the  majority 
are  included  four  men  formerly  condemned  to  death  for 
desertion  to  the  enemy,  and  one  man  charged  with  wil- 
ful murder.  The  election  of  these  five  has  been  pro- 
tested by  forty-five  deputies,  but  the  Germans  have 
ordered  that  they  be  accepted. 

{June  23.)  Owing  to  the  dry  weather  both  in 
Bessarabia  and  in  Roumania,  it  is  estimated  that  the 
total  production  of  wheat,  maize,  sugar,  lards,  etc., 
will  be  less  than  50  per  cent  of  the  quantity  actually 
needed  for  local  consumption.  It  is  apparent  that 
present  stocks  of  provisions  will  be  used  up  before  the 
new  crop  arrives.  We  have  telegraphed  to  our  govern- 
ments of  these  conditions,  urging  steps  for  relief  not  only 
for  humanity's  sake,  but  also  the  deep  and  lasting 
gratitude  to  the  Entente  which  will  be  created  by  such 
action.  We  have  advised  that  all  supplies  be  under 
the  control  of  a  neutral  country,  and  that  care  must  be 
taken  that  none  be  appropriated  for  the  German  army. 

{July  1.)  The  peace  treaty  has  been  approved  by 
the  Chamber  of  Deputies  by  135  out  of  179  votes.  On 
this  occasion,  General  Averescu  made  the  statement 
that  the  ties  still  remain  between  Roumania  and  the 
Entente.  There  is  much  bad  feeling  between  the  Bessa- 
rabian  and  Roumanian  troops,  the  latter  being  forced, 


Fortress  in  Brassov,  Transylvania 


Bridge  over  Danube  River  at  Cerna  Voda,  Roumania, 

Destroyed  by  the  German  Army 


ELECTIONS  CONTROLLED  BY  GERMANS       223 

in  conformity  with  the  treaty  of  Bucharest,  to  make 
requisitions  for  the  Germans. 

(/w/y  5.)  The  peace  treaty  has  been  approved  by 
the  Senate,  and  the  king  has  given  orders  to  maintain 
strict  neutrahty. 

{July  8.)  The  Senate  and  the  Chambers  have  made 
their  answers  to  the  address  of  the  king.  That  of  the 
Senate  mentions  that  the  peace  of  Bucharest  will  permit 
reestablishment  of  old  relations  with  the  Central  Powers, 
while  that  of  the  Chambers  does  not  make  any  allusion 
to  their  future  relations.  In  his  reply,  the  king  has 
stated  that  their  neutrality  will  permit  them  to  enter- 
tain their  peace  relations,  and  also  friendly  relations  with 
all  the  countries. 

{July  16.)  Notwithstanding  the  ratification  of  peace, 
the  Germans  continue  to  make  demands,  especially  in 
financial  matters.  They  seek  control  of  the  National 
Bank  of  Roumania,  with  the  right  to  appoint  the  per- 
sonnel of  the  bank.  They  demand  a  credit  of  three 
milliards  at  a  rate  of  exchange  advantageous  to  them, 
which  would  reduce  the  price  of  cereals  20  per  cent 
more.  They  require  a  monopoly  for  checks  and  drafts 
for  the  exterior,  and  demand  that  their  debts  for  larger 
exports  from  Roumania  to  Central  Europe  shall  be  paid 
wholly  in  merchandise,  which  they  will  either  furnish 
themselves  or  supply  through  an  intermediary. 

The  statement  of  the  principal  agent  of  the  Reichs- 
bank  for  the  purchase  of  cereals  in  Ukrainia  is  that  the 
intent  of  the  Central  Powers  is  systematically  to  depre- 
ciate the  value  of  the  money  of  all  countries,  in  order  to 
make  the  mark  the  international  standard  in  Central 
Europe  and  the  Orient.  The  Germans  continue  to  issue 
lei  currency  in  Bucharest,  which  is  to  be  taken  up  by 

15 


224  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

the  Roumanian  government  without  limit,  according  to 
the  peace  treaty.  This  will  enable  them  to  acquire  the 
stocks  of  all  financial  and  industrial  associations  of  the 
country.  General  conditions  have  become  very  much 
worse  since  peace  was  ratified.  The  Germans  do  not 
hesitate  to  take  the  last  provisions  away  from  the  peas- 
ants, and  they  are  shipping  to  Germany  everything 
they  can  use.  All  people,  regardless  of  age  or  sex, 
who  incur  their  displeasure,  they  condemn,  without 
investigation,  to  five  or  ten  years  of  imprisonment. 

Ukrainia  having  been  declared  a  war  zone,  the  only 
Allied  consuls  are  in  Odessa,  except  that  those  of  France 
and  Greece  have  been  sent  to  Moscow. 

{July  18.)  Notwithstanding  the  ratification  of  peace, 
a  state  of  blockade  has  been  renewed  for  the  entire 
territory  of  Roumania,  without  time  limit. 

(/w/y  22.)  We  have  written  to  the  Minister  of  For- 
eign Affairs,  renewing  our  request  for  authority  to  send 
an  agent  to  inspect  the  Legation  buildings  in  Bucharest, 
as  we  have  been  informed  that  some  of  them  have  been 
burglarized. 

{July  23.)  We  have  notified  our  governments  that 
articles  very  unfavorable  to  the  Entente  cause,  inspired 
by  the  Marghiloman  cabinet,  have  been  appearing  in 
the  press.  In  one  of  these  it  was  stated  that,  "It  has 
been  impossible  to  get  the  Enemy  communication  on 
account  of  atmospheric  troubles."  On  that  same  day 
we  received  communications  from  Lyons,  which  appeared 
in  the  independent  Jassy  papers. 

{July  24.)  The  daily  ration  of  bread  has  been  reduced 
from  500  to  250  grams.  The  Roumanian  transportation 
fleet  of  the  Danube  is  to  be  put  in  service  between  Aker- 
mann  and  Odessa.    The  Chamber  of  Deputies  states 


ELECTIONS  CONTROLLED  BY  GERMANS      225 

that  a  foreign  company  is  purchasing  coal  mines,  and 
fields  which  may  contain  coal,  in  the  occupied  territory, 
and  will  make  similar  purchases  in  Moldavia  and  Bessa- 
rabia. There  is  danger  that  Roumanian  industries  will 
be  dependent  on  foreigners  for  coal,  but  the  Minister 
of  Commerce  states  that  the  present  laws  do  not  allow 
any  interference  with  such  purchases.  Reserve  officers 
and  members  of  the  universities  have  protested  against 
the  attacks  of  the  Senate  on  the  Crown. 

We  are  advised  that  a  telegram  addressed  to  our 
governments  cannot  be  dispatched,  the  Prime  Minister 
claiming  that  it  is  against  the  Roumanian  government. 
He  expresses  regret  that  the  "enemy  communications" 
article  was  printed,  and  assures  us  there  will  be  no 
repetition.  He  says  that  his  paper,  the  "Steagul,"  being 
issued  in  Bucharest,  is  under  German  censorship,  and 
therefore  prints  only  the  news  supplied  by  the  German 
military  authorities. 

We  learn  that  the  German  authorities  of  Kiev  have 
prohibited  the  departure  of  Messrs.  Choulguine  and 
Galip,  whom  the  Ukrainian  government  had  charged 
Vvdth  a  mission  to  the  Entente  countries.  Also  the 
German  authorities  protest  the  incorporating  by  Ukrain- 
ia  of  Vol>Tiia,  Podolia  and  Odessa.  The  anti-German 
movement  in  Ukrainia  becomes  stronger  each  day. 

{August  6.)  The  news  of  the  interference  of  the 
Allies  in  Russia  has  produced  the  most  favorable  effect 
in  Roumania,  where  opinion  is  principally  impressed 
by  events  which  affect  the  local  situation.  In  all  quar- 
ters, except  the  Germanophile  circles,  which  are  growing 
smaller  each  day,  it  is  stated  that  if  this  interference 
had  been  earlier,  it  would  have  saved  Roumania,  or  in 
any  case,  that  their  army  could  have  been  used  for  the 


226  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

common  cause  in  Russia.  At  present  the  Allied  efforts 
are  being  watched  with  interest.  They  hope  that  good 
fortune  for  the  Allies  in  Bulgaria  and  in  Turkey  will 
soon  permit  free  action  for  Roumania. 

According  to  information  from  Ukrainia,  the  anti- 
German  movement  and  the  general  strike  on  the  rail- 
roads, which  affects  the  transportation  of  foods  for  the 
Germans,  are  strongly  encouraged  by  the  Inter-Allied 
action  in  Russia,  and  by  the  success  of  the  Czecho- 
slovaks. We  wish  that  the  Allied  efforts  in  Russia  may 
be  accelerated  and  strengthened  as  much  as  possible. 

{August  8.)  The  report  of  the  investigating  com- 
mission regarding  the  Bratiano  question  has  been  depos- 
ited, and  Mr.  Bratiano  has  made  his  reply. 

{August  12.)  The  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  made 
the  following  statements  yesterday  at  the  parlia- 
ment: 

''Since  the  day  that  we  signed  the  peace,  it  has  been 
our  duty  to  be  absolutely  neutral  towards  all  countries. 
In  consequence,  we  do  not  permit  any  hostile  acts,  no 
attacks  nor  discourtesy  to  the  Entente  countries.  We 
are,  nevertheless,  obliged  to  follow  the  policies  that 
result  from  the  peace  treaty,  which  we  have  to  respect 
and  apply.  This  treaty  has  established  between  us  and 
the  Central  Powers  certain  relations  that  we  cannot 
prevent.  We  are  bound  to  the  Central  Powers  in  regard 
to  our  economic  situation,  and  everybody  knows  how 
the  economic  life  influences  the  political  life  of  the 
nation." 

In  regard  to  this,  agreements  have  been  made  in 
Berlin  in  view  of  the  execution  of  this  treaty.  Answer- 
ing a  question  of  an  independent  deputy,  who  character- 
ized the  attitude  of  the  government  as  contrary  to  the 


TrAVELIXu   ox    rill-.    RAII.koADS    IX    RcJUMANIA    DUKIXr.    'I'lll-;    W'ai-; 


TOWX    OF    Ca.MI'L  LING    IN    "WaLACIIIA 


ELECTIONS  CONTROLLED  BY  GERMANS       227 

principles  of  neutrality,  the  minister  added:  "If  you 
believe  that  conditions  will  change  in  time,  different 
statements  will  perhaps  be  made  at  this  Tribune  by 
another  government." 

The  papers  of  the  Roumanian  Legation  in  Petrograd, 
after  having  been  deposited  by  Mr.  Diamandy  at  the 
French  Embassy,  have  now  been  handed  over  to  the 
Norwegian  Legation.  The  Marghiloman  cabinet  intends 
to  ask  their  transfer  to  Jassy.  As  these  papers  contain 
confidential  documents  regarding  the  relations  between 
Roumania  and  the  Entente,  it  is  necessary  that  they 
should  not  be  remitted  to  the  Marghiloman  cabinet, 
which  would  give  them  to  the  Germans.  We  beg  our 
governments  to  intercede  with  the  Norwegian  govern- 
ment, and  request  that  it  does  not  comply  with  the 
request  of  the  Marghiloman  cabinet. 

{August  13.)  The  parliament  has  given  authority  to 
the  Marghiloman  cabinet  to  make  decisions  in  form  of 
decrees  of  law  during  the  parliamentary  vacations,  and 
during  the  intervals  between  the  dissolution  and  the 
convocation  of  the  Chamber,  until  the  general  peace. 
This  authority  will  only  depend  upon  restrictions  of 
second  order,  especially  as  regards  the  pensions  and  the 
settling  of  questions  concerning  the  advance  of  the  civil 
and  military  officers. 

Count  Czemin  having  stated  that,  during  the  nego- 
tiations of  Brest-Litovsk,  Roumanian  politicians  had 
brought  to  his  knowledge  the  fact  that  Roumania  was 
ready  to  make  peace,  the  king  and  Mr.  Bratiano  have 
said  that  this  statement  has  no  foundation  as  regards 
the  Roumanian  government,  and  that  it  must  have 
originated  from  the  Germanophile  party  in  Bucharest. 
The  statement  has  been  confirmed  by  all  our  information 


228  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

as  regards  the  attitude  of  the  Bratiano  government,  who 
have  resisted  the  pressure  of  the  poHticians  in  Bucharest, 
and  have  admitted  the  peace  negotiations  with  the 
enemy  only  after  the  situation  of  Roumania  had  become 
totally  desperate  as  a  result  of  the  complete  surrounding 
of  the  country. 

According  to  a  radio  from  Lyons  of  the  11th  of 
August,  the  English  government  has  published  our  col- 
lective telegrams  of  the  16th  of  May  as  regards  the  peace 
imposed  on  Roumania.  This  telegram,  which  was  dis- 
patched after  we  were  no  longer  allowed  to  use  the  wire- 
less, must  surely  have  called  the  attention  of  the  Germans 
to  the  fact  that  we  possess  a  secret  means  of  communi- 
cation via  Moscow.  We  repeat  that  our  code  telegrams 
are  for  the  strictly  secret  use  of  our  governments,  and 
that  the  press  should  only  publish  information  emanat- 
ing from  a  neutral  source. 

(August  26.)  The  success  of  the  Entente  in  France 
and  their  efforts  to  reestablish  the  Oriental  front  pro- 
duce a  great  impression  here,  and  raise  up  again  the 
national  aspirations.  The  Germans,  afraid  of  this  situ- 
ation, increase  their  brutalities. 

It  is  necessary  to  reveal  the  manner  in  which  they 
execute  the  peace  terms  they  have  imposed  on  Roumania. 
Notwithstanding  that  this  peace  has  already  been  rati- 
fied by  the  parliament,  the  members  of  which  were 
chosen  under  German  control,  the  Germans  do  not 
hesitate  to  make  it  constantly  worse.  The  occupation 
continues  as  before,  with  all  its  abuses  and  violences. 
The  country  is  being  emptied  of  its  last  resources,  taken 
by  the  Germans,  or  what  is  the  same  in  effect,  requisi- 
tioned with  bonds  payable  by  the  Roumanian  govern- 
ment. 


ELECTIONS  CONTROLLED  BY  GERMANS       229 

The  people  who  fled  to  Moldavia  cannot  return  to 
their  homes,  either  because  the  necessary  authority  has 
not  been  granted  by  the  Germans  or  because  their  homes 
are  occupied  by  the  Germans.  German  officers  are  being 
billeted  in  the  private  properties,  where  they  have  their 
families  join  them,  and  the  unfortunate  owners  not  only 
are  deprived  of  the  use  of  their  homes  and  estates,  but 
are  even  required  to  pay  their  unwelcome  tenants 
for  their  occupancy.  Thus  the  wife  of  a  colonel  gets  an 
allowance  of  six  hundred  francs  a  month  as  compensa- 
tion for  the  supervision  of  the  house,  and  the  children 
also  get  allowances  for  certain  alleged  employment. 
Some  proprietors,  whose  property  formerly  brought  them 
several  hundred  thousand  francs  a  year,  having  put  in  a 
claim  for  at  least  a  part  of  their  income,  have  been 
answered  by  bills,  according  to  which  the  owners  owe 
the  German  occupants  considerable  sums  of  money. 
The  peasants  have  been  reduced  to  death  by  starvation, 
or  when  forced  to  labor,  in  cases  of  resistance  have  been 
executed. 

The  only  relief  from  the  Germans  is  to  take  advan- 
tage of  their  corruptibility.  Several  officers  are  men- 
tioned who  can  be  bribed.  The  Germans  do  not  treat 
the  Germanophile  government  any  better  than  the 
population,  several  members  of  the  cabinet  even  being 
unable  to  obtain  authority  to  reoccupy  their  homes  in 
Bucharest. 

The  execution  of  the  clauses  of  the  treaty,  favorable 
in  appearance  to  the  Roumanians,  is  always  dependent 
on  certain  conditions.  For  instance,  the  remitting  of 
posts  and  telegraphs,  still  under  German  control,  to 
the  Roumanian  government,  involves  an  indemnity  of 
two  hundred  millions,   for  the  reimbursement  of  the 


230  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

betterments  they  have  made  in  the  systems,  and  they 
want  a  much  larger  sum  for  returning  the  railways. 

The  six  divisions  mentioned  by  the  treaty  for  the 
occupation  consist  of  160,000  men,  mostly  men  inva- 
lided from  active  service,  and  these  are  maintained  at 
the  expense  of  Roumania.  Although  the  Germans  live 
on  what  they  take  from  the  people,  the  German  govern- 
ment has  claimed  an  indemnity  of  sixty  millions  per 
month  or  720  millions  a  year.  The  Germans  request 
that  the  members  of  the  Bratiano  cabinet  be  arrested. 

The  system  adopted  in  Roumania  by  the  Germans 
shows  that  they  are  not  certain  of  the  future.  They 
sacrifice  all  future  prospects  for  present  benefits,  by 
taking  everything  away  from  the  country  and  terrify- 
ing the  people.  It  is  a  fact  that  they  do  not  leave  the 
peasants  a  sufficient  quantity  of  grain  for  the  sowing  in 
1919,  the  future  not  seeming  to  interest  them. 

{August  27.)  A  Belgian,  Mr.  Vermeulen,  and  an 
Italian,  Mr.  Negro,  have  recently  submitted  to  the 
Minister  of  the  United  States  an  invention  which, 
according  to  them,  would  increase  the  production  of 
bread  by  50  per  cent.  The  United  States  Minister  has 
advised  his  government,  but  has  failed  to  receive  a  reply. 

Advantageous  propositions  have  since  been  made 
to  the  inventors  for  the  exploitation  of  their  discovery 
in  Roumania,  but  their  acceptance  would  unavoidably 
give  the  secret  of  their  invention  to  the  Germans.  We 
are  not  in  a  position  to  state  whether  their  invention  is 
as  valuable  as  they  say  it  is,  but  the  good  faith  of  the 
inventors  cannot  be  doubted,  and  in  case  the  invention 
is  efficient,  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  the 
enemy  be  unable  to  apply  it.  In  these  circumstances 
the  Ministers  of  England,  France  and  the  United  States 


Roumanian  General  Staff 


XASTERY    AT    TiSMAXA,    Roi'MANIA 

Church  from  Fourteenth  Century 


ELECTIONS  CONTROLLED  BY  GERMANS       231 

have  made  an  arrangement  with  the  inventors  that  they 
shall  not  exploit  the  invention  directly  or  indirectly,  nor 
give  the  secret  to  any  country,  without  our  written  author- 
ity. They  will  leave  for  London,  as  soon  as  circumstances 
permit,  to  offer  their  invention  to  competent  tests. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

CROPS   MUCH   LESS   THAN   FOOD   REQUIREMENTS  — 
ELOPEMENT  OF  CROWN  PRINCE 

(August  27,  1918) 

ACCORDING  to  the  local  press,  the  grain  harvest 
of  this  year  can  be  estimated  as  follows: 
Wheat,  48,000  carloads,  requirements,  55,000 
carloads,  shortage,  7,000  carloads. 

Oats,    5,100    carloads,    requirements,    15,500 
carloads,  shortage,  10,400  carloads. 

Barley,  2,500  carloads,  requirements,  12,400 
carloads,  shortage,  9,900  carloads. 

Maize,  102,000  carloads,  requirements,  93,000 
carloads,  surplus  9,000  carloads. 
{September  2.)  The  continual  victories  of  the  Entente 
on  the  Western  front  have  deeply  impressed  Roumania. 
These  victories  strengthen  the  national  feeling  so  much 
depressed  by  the  local  situation,  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
they  increase  the  harsh  actions  of  the  Germians,  in  their 
endeavor  to  remain  masters  of  Roumania  materially, 
the  morale  of  the  people  escaping  them.  Their  domina- 
tion, based  upon  faith  in  their  final  victory,  the  chances 
of  which,  however,  decrease  every  day,  they  think  depends 
upon  their  severity,  and  they  of  course  will  make  the 
people  feel  their  pressure  more  and  more  as  it  becomes 
their  only  means  of  control. 

The  German  authorities,  who  apply  in  the  occupied 
territory  the  same  system  as  during  the  war,  demand 
in  Moldavia  certain  steps  for  their  advantage.  They 
have  proposed  three  laws: 

232 


CROPS  LESS  THAN  FOOD  REQUIREMENTS    233 

(1)  To  forgive  all  the  traitors  and  deserters.  (2)  To 
discuss,  at  a  meeting  composed  of  agents  under  German 
orders,  the  question  of  their  right  to  arrest  the  mem- 
bers of  the  old  government,  and  all  other  people  who 
might  be  in  the  favor  of  the  old  government.  (3)  To 
free  immediately  all  traitors  and  deserters  who  have 
already  been  condemned. 

Of  these  three  propositions,  the  first  only  has  been 
foreseen  by  the  peace  treaty.  The  other  two  will  en- 
able the  Germans  to  injure  their  adversaries,  to  keep  up 
the  work  of  their  party  and  to  ruin  discipline  in  the  army, 
as  the  freeing  of  traitors  is  contrary  to  the  constitution. 

The  king  having  stated  that  he  will  use  his  preroga- 
tive against  these  propositions,  Mr.  Marghiloman  has 
resigned.  After  advice  from  Mr.  Bratiano,  the  king 
has  reversed  his  decision,  and  Mr.  Marghiloman  has 
withdrawn  his  resignation.  The  attitude  of  the  king 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  he  is  afraid  the  Germans  will 
fight  again,  which  intention  they  openly  manifest,  in 
order  to  bring  about  his  fall  and  entrust  the  ruling  of 
the  country  to  men  like  Carp  and  Stere,  in  whom  they 
have  more  confidence  than  in  Marghiloman. 

The  latter  has  stated  to  the  king  in  writing  that 
these  three  propositions  were  imposed  by  the  Germans. 
This  last  indication  is  to  remain  secret.  The  Germans 
have  also  presented  two  legal  propositions  regarding  the 
Banque  Nationale  and  the  Credit  Foncier,  through  which 
the  control  of  those  two  concerns  will  be  entirely  in  their 
hands. 

They  also  demand  that  the  military  forces  be  reduced 
to  less  than  the  number  stipulated  in  the  peace  treaty, 
and  that  the  employes  of  the  court  be  sent  away,  as  they 
were  all   favorable  to  the   Entente.    Certain  military 


234  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

measures  seem  to  indicate  that  they  intend  to  occupy 
Moldavia  and  to  arrest  the  royal  family.  We  feel  that 
our  governments  should  warn  the  enemy  that  pursuance 
of  the  policy  of  punishing  fidelity  to  the  Entente,  and 
of  seizing  and  attempting  to  dominate  state  and  private 
resources  and  institutions,  will  result  in  similar  treat- 
ment being  accorded  them  later  on.  Such  a  message 
would  be  very  cheering  for  the  Roumanian  people,  and 
would  have  a  salutary  effect  on  the  enemy  representa- 
tives. We  recommend  that  it  be  sent  by  radio,  and  that 
it  be  based  on  information  received  through  a  neu- 
tral country,  in  order  not  to  involve  us,  as  it  would  suit 
the  German  purpose  to  have  a  pretext  for  a  break  between 
the  cabinet  and  ourselves.  Also  that  the  warning  shall 
apply  to  actions  in  other  countries  as  well  as  in  Roumania. 

As  the  Germans  meet  with  defeat  on  the  Western 
front,  they  increase  their  severity  in  Roumania.  It  is 
the  apparent  intention  to  reduce  this  country  to  a  state 
of  absolute  helplessness  before  it  becomes  necessary 
to  ^vithdraw  any  considerable  number  of  the  occupation 
troops.  Although  all  the  prisoners  taken  from  the 
Central  Powers  have  been  released  and  sent  home,  the 
Roumanians  who  were  taken  by  the  Germans  are  being 
held,  and  are  kept  at  hard  labor  for  the  benefit  of  their 
captors.  Contrary  to  the  terms  of  the  peace  treaty, 
the  Germans  now  demand  all  the  war  material  and 
supplies,  and  they  have  already  seized  that  which  was 
held  in  Odessa.  And  they  refuse  to  permit  Roumania 
to  keep  any  standing  army,  unless  part  of  it  shall  be  put 
under  their  orders  to  fight  in  Russia. 

(September  12.)  In  reproducing  a  recent  speech  of 
Senator  Lodge,  the  newspapers  of  Bucharest  state  that 
of  all  the  countries  taking  part  in  the  war,  only  Rou- 


Minister  Vopicka  Addressing  German  War 
Prisoners  in  Bucharest 


Monastery  in  Putna,  Bukowina,  now  Part  of  Roumaxia 


CROPS  LESS  THAN   FOOD   REQUIREMENTS    235 

mania  has  been  omitted.  They  conclude  that  Rou- 
mania  has  sacrificed  everything  and  that  they  will  have 
nothing  to  expect  from  the  Entente. 

(September  16.)  We  are  sending  via  Moscow  the 
text  of  a  manifesto  issued  by  the  representatives  of  the 
"Party  of  Labor,"  in  the  name  of  the  labor  population  of 
the  cities  and  country.  This  manifesto  has  been  secretly 
signed  by  a  great  number  of  people,  and  refers  to  the 
monstrous  peace  imposed  on  Roumania,  which  especially 
concerns  the  laborers.  We  think  it  would  be  important 
to  publish  this  document  as  widely  as  possible,  especially 
in  socialist  circles,  including  those  of  the  Central  Powers. 
In  order  to  protect  the  members  of  the  Party  of  Labor 
it  will  be  necessary  to  publish  this  manifesto  as  coming 
from  an  unknown  organization,  or  from  the  Roumanian 
laborers. 

An  emissary  has  been  sent  recently  by  the  Hungarian 
government  to  the  royal  family  of  Roumania.  He  has 
had  an  audience  with  the  queen  and  the  crown  prince, 
and  he  has  spoken  to  them  regarding  an  agreement 
between  Roumania  and  Hungary  to  act  against  the 
great  countries  in  the  general  peace  negotiations.  Hav- 
ing agreed  to  see  this  emissary  only  upon  the  re- 
quest of  the  Prime  Minister,  the  queen  and  the 
crown  prince  listened  to  him  and  then  declared  that  no 
conversation  of  this  nature  is  possible  so  long  as  Rou- 
manian territory  is  occupied. 

It  is  not  known  in  any  of  the  governmental  circles 
what  is  behind  this  proposition,  but  the  Hungarian 
emissary  stated  his  desire  to  see  the  queen  because  she 
is  an  English  princess,  and  it  is  questionable  whether 
these  steps  were  not  more  or  less  antagonistic  to  England. 

{September  21.)    A   letter   from   General   Averescu 


236  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

has  been  read  at  the  Chamber  meeting,  concerning  the 
attitude  of  Roumania,  which  is  too  much  in  favor  of 
the  Central  Powers,  and  contrary  to  a  strict  neutrality, 
especially  regarding  an  eventual  military  action  of  the 
Roumanian  army  in  Ukrainia. 

Mr.  Cuza,  an  independent  member  of  the  Parlia- 
ment, has  developed  the  subject  of  realizing  the  impor- 
tance of  public  opinion,  and  has  also  dwelt  upon  the 
fact  that  the  government,  beyond  the  clauses  of  the 
peace  treaty,  has  authorized  the  export  of  12,300  car- 
loads of  grain  from  Bessarabia.  He  has  also  called 
attention  to  the  fact  that  there  are  rumors  of  the 
delivery  of  ammunition  to  the  Central  Powers. 

Mr.  Marghiloman  has  firmly  denied  the  rumors 
concerning  a  cooperation  of  Roumania  in  Ukrainia,  and 
has  stated  that  he  has  received  no  demands  to  this 
effect. 

As  regards  the  attitude  of  the  press,  he  has  stated 
that  he  did  not  go  beyond  the  principles  of  neutrality, 
and  that  it  was  natural,  as  Roumania  had  concluded 
peace  with  Austro-Hungary,  that  she  was  trying  to 
regain  the  confidence  lost  as  a  consequence  of  the  war. 
Regarding  the  grain  exports  from  Bessarabia,  he  stated 
that  he  had  consented  to  this  only  in  order  to  limit  the 
requisitions  of  the  Germans  in  the  occupied  territory, 
and  thus  help  the  Roumanian  people  indirectly.  He 
adds,  however,  that  on  account  of  inefficient  guarding 
of  the  frontier,  a  great  deal  of  grain  is  smuggled  to 
Ukrainia.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Germans  have  only 
been  able  to  get  2,000  carloads  of  what  was  sent.  As 
regards  ammunition,  he  stated  that  he  has  not  sent 
any  of  it  to  the  enemy,  although,  according  to  the  con- 
vention of  the  Hague,  a  neutral  country  has  the  right 


CROPS  LESS  THAN   FOOD   REQUIREMENTS    237 

to  furnish  arms  to  a  belligerent  state.  He  concluded 
by  stating  that  he  will  maintain  a  strict  neutrality. 

Several  days  ago,  the  crown  prince  mysteriously 
left  Roumania,  leaving  a  letter  to  be  delivered  to  the 
king  a  few  days  after  his  departure.  In  this  he  declared 
his  intention  to  enter  the  service  on  the  Western  front. 
He  was  accompanied  by  a  young  girl  of  the  middle  class, 
Mademoiselle  Lambrino,  whom  he  married  in  Odessa. 
Being  recognized,  he  was  unable  to  proceed  further, 
and  at  the  request  of  his  parents  he  returned  to 
Roumania,  where  he  will  be  tried  for  leaving  the  com- 
mand of  his  regiment  without  proper  authority.  His 
marriage  may  compel  him  to  relinquish  his  rights  to  the 
throne  in  favor  of  Prince  Nicholai,  whom  the  Germans 
would  greatly  prefer. 

The  king,  as  commander  in  chief  of  the  army,  has 
condemned  the  crown  prince  to  imprisonment  in  jail 
for  seventy-five  days  for  leaving  his  command  without 
permission.  There  is  much  discussion  as  to  whether 
or  not  the  crown  prince  should  forfeit  his  rights  to  the 
Crown.  Several  who  have  been  in  favor  of  it  have 
altered  their  opinions,  having  realized  the  desire  of  the 
Germans. 

Returning  from  Bucharest,  Mr.  Marghiloman,  appar- 
ently through  German  influence,  has  threatened  to 
resign  if  the  crown  prince's  rights  were  not  forfeited, 
and  he  also  proposed  to  the  king  that  the  constitution 
be  so  altered  as  to  permit,  in  case  of  necessity,  the 
nomination  of  a  foreigner  in  the  crown  prince's  stead. 
In  this  connection  he  mentioned  the  Prince  of  Hohen- 
zoUem  and  the  Duke  of  Brunswick,  a  son-in-law  of  the 
Emperor.  The  king  has  refused  to  consider  this  pro- 
posal. 


238  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

The  Societe  Commerciale  de  Navigation  Russe 
announces  that  the  service  between  Odessa  and  Con- 
stantinople, with  the  former  calls  at  Roumanian  ports 
in  the  Black  Sea,  will  be  taken  up  again. 

A  radio  of  the  Transoceanic  Agency  announces 
that  the  service  of  freight  trains  between  Germany 
and  Roumania  will  soon  be  reestablished.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  communication,  a  newspaper  of  Bucha- 
rest announces  that  the  firm  of  S.  &.  W.  Hoffman  will 
undertake  the  imports  between  Hungary  and  Roumania 
and  the  firm  of  Schenker  &  Co.  the  imports  between 
Austria  and  Roumania,  and  that  the  firm  Express  of 
Berlin  has  established  a  branch  office  in  Bucharest 
for  the  needs  of  the  German  import  business. 

{September  26.)  We  are  endeavoring  to  impress 
upon  our  governments  the  absolute  necessity,  in  the 
existing  circumstances,  of  being  able  to  communicate 
with  them  by  means  of  code  telegrams,  and  we  urge 
action  which  will  enable  us  to  properly  conduct  our 
legations. 

The  campaign  of  the  Bucharest  newspapers  against 
the  Entente  grows  worse  each  day.  A  first  page  article 
has  appeared  headed  "The  Treason  of  the  Entente." 
A  few  of  the  papers  of  Jassy  have  joined  in  this  campaign. 
One  of  them  states  that  the  actual  situation  of  the 
Entente  is  very  difficult,  and  leads  readers  to  expect  a 
colossal  offensive  of  the  Germans  against  France.  They 
state  that  if  peace  is  concluded  according  to  the  fourteen 
points  of  President  Wilson,  or  the  seven  points  of  the 
German  program,  Germany  will  not  be  destroyed,  but 
on  the  contrary  will  be  strengthened. 

(October  1.)  Events  in  Bulgaria  produce  in  Rou- 
mania considerable  effect.    They  strengthen  the  feeling 


Episc-oi'Ai.iAx  Palack  and  Church  of  thi:  Monastery  at 

CURTEA    DE    ArGESH    IN    RoUMANIA 


BiSTRiTZA  Valley  in  Walachia 


CROPS  LESS  THAN   FOOD   REQUIREMENTS     239 

created  by  the  victories  of  the  Entente  on  the  other 
fronts  in  favor  of  a  reintervention  of  the  Roumanian 
army  on  our  side.  In  all  circles  there  are  rumors  of  a 
new  mobilization.  But  the  German  occupation  becoming 
more  strict,  and  the  disorganization  of  the  army  accord- 
ing to  the  peace  treaty,  which  has  already  been  realized 
to  a  great  extent,  reduce  Roumania  to  complete  inca- 
pacity as  long  as  she  cannot  get  in  communication  with 
the  Allied  troops.  It  is  also  feared  that  any  attempt  to 
mobilize  or  any  trouble  resulting  would  be  followed  by 
the  occupation  of  Moldavia,  and  that  the  Roumanian 
government  would  disappear,  also  what  is  left  of  the 
army,  until  Roumania  is  freed  by  the  Allies. 

According  to  some  information  from  German  sources, 
this  occupation  would  have  been  accomplished  a  long 
time  ago  if  it  were  not  a  military  problem.  But  it  is 
said  that  the  German  government  cares  less  for  the 
military  advantage  than  for  the  fact  that  it  would 
have  to  violate  completely  the  only  treaty  of  peace 
the  Germans  have  concluded  with  a  regular  government. 
It  is  for  this  reason  they  have  not  wiped  out  the  seat  of 
hostility  that  Moldavia  presents  to  them,  and  have  not 
even  demanded  the  sending  away  of  the  Allied  missions, 
which,  however,  they  try  to  crush. 

However,  if  any  steps  were  taken  in  view  of  a  new 
mobilization,  or  if  there  was  violent  excitement,  this 
would  permit  the  Germans  to  occupy  Moldavia  im- 
mediately under  pretext  that  the  peace  treaty  has  been 
broken  by  Roumania.  In  order  to  reduce  to  a  minimum 
the  risks  of  such  occupation,  the  friends  of  the  Entente 
do  their  best  to  avoid  any  action  that  might  lead  to  it. 
In  order  to  facilitate  their  task,  and  to  furnish  no  pre- 
text to  the  Germans,  it  is  preferable  for  the  time  being 

16 


240  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

that  the  radios  destined  to  Roumania  do  not  refer  to 
this  eventual  mobilization. 

The  day  that  Roumania  is  able  to  communicate 
with  the  Allied  troops  on  their  arrival  at  the  Danube, 
the  Roumanians  will  help  with  all  their  strength.  But 
the  Entente  will  have  to  renew  their  engagements  with 
Roumania,  and  it  would  be  of  great  help  if  the  United 
States  would  join  them. 

The  general  feeling  here  is  that  Roumania  has  done 
its  duty  under  the  peace  made  imperative  by  the  treason 
and  hostility  of  the  Russians.  The  engagements  keep 
their  political  and  moral  value;  their  judicial  value  only 
can  be  contested  since  Roumania  has  officially  ceased  to 
be  our  ally.  We  request  our  governments  to  let  us  know 
as  soon  as  possible  what  we  will  have  to  reply  if  this 
question  is  raised.  In  case  we  have  to  reply  affirma- 
tively, we  ask  that  the  following  wire  be  sent  to  the 
French  Legation:— "Your  accounts  up  to  the  30th  of 
March  have  been  approved." 

We  will  of  course  remind  Roumania  of  its  own  en- 
gagements, and  we  leave  it  to  our  military  attaches  to 
explain  the  importance  of  the  aid  of  the  Roumanian 
army  and  the  disposition  to  be  taken. 

{October  3.)  Mr.  Constantinesco,  former  Minister 
of  Interior  in  the  Bratiano  cabinet,  together  with  the 
former  prefect  of  police  in  Bucharest  and  others,  has 
been  arrested.  He  has  been  shut  up  in  the  central 
prison,  notwithstanding  the  law  providing  a  special 
system  for  the  detention  of  ministers. 

{October  6.)  The  Germans,  who  have  always  post- 
poned the  ratification  of  the  peace  treaty,  seem  to  be  im- 
patient to  proceed  to  it  since  the  events  in  Bulgaria.  It 
would  of  course  be  in  their  favor  to  give  this  treaty  a 


CROPS  LESS  THAN  FOOD   REQUIREMENTS    241 

more  definite  character.  On  the  other  hand,  although 
the  Marghiloman  cabinet  desires  to  postpone  this  for- 
mality, perhaps  to  make  the  peace  treaty  less  definite, 
we  think  they  will  not  be  able  to  delay  it  much  longer. 
In  fact,  the  exchange  of  ratifications  would  have  the 
effect,  theoretically,  of  bringing  an  end  to  the  requi- 
sitions that  reduce  the  country  to  starvation,  and  also 
an  end  to  the  unlimited  issue  of  paper  money  authorized 
by  the  Germans  and  redeemable  by  the  Roumanian 
government,  the  amount  already  issued  being  approxi- 
mately three  milliard  lei. 

But  the  most  imperative  reason  for  not  refusing 
the  exchange  of  ratifications,  which  would  decide  even  the 
most  faithful  friends  of  the  Entente,  is  the  danger  of 
incurring  by  this  attitude  the  immediate  occupation 
of  Moldavia,  which  would  of  course  destroy  all  chances 
of  mobilization. 

{October  7.)  The  peace  proposition  of  the  Germans 
is  watched  anxiously,  the  program  of  President  Wilson 
being  accepted  as  the  basis  of  the  negotiations,  which, 
according  to  the  telegrams  we  have  received,  mentions 
the  evacuation  of  the  German  troops  in  Roumania. 

The  fact  that  Roumania  has  often  been  ignored  has 
been  taken  advantage  of  by  our  enemies,  and  it  will 
be  of  the  greatest  importance  to  see  to  it  that  this  is 
done  no  more.  This,  combined  with  the  public  and 
private  ruin  and  misery,  would  incite  terrible  anarchy, 
and  the  realization  of  national  unity  and  economic 
restoration  will  be  the  only  means  of  preventing  Russian 
anarchy  from  penetrating  Roumania. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  day  that  order  is  reestablished 
in  Roumania,  the  national  feeling  has  been  so  much 
suppressed  it  would  not  lead  to  complications  for  the 


242  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Entente.  On  the  contrary,  the  realization  of  national 
unity  and  the  economic  restoration  would  mean  for  the 
Entente,  in  an  enlarged  and  grateful  Roumania,  a  strong 
political  and  economic  basis  between  Bulgaria  and 
Southern  Russia. 

Mr.  Bratiano,  who  will  probably  again  be  prime 
minister  when  circumstances  permit  the  king  to  make 
his  choice,  has  called  on  us  to  impress  upon  our  govern- 
ments this  expectation,  which  is  fully  justified.  Mr. 
Bratiano  hopes  that  the  continuation  of  hostilities  and 
the  arrival  of  the  Allied  troops  from  the  Orient  will 
permit  Roumania  to  take  up  arms  again,  which,  it  is 
believed,  would  restore  all  their  value  to  the  engagements 
entered  into  with  her,  and  the  peace  concluded  at  Bucha- 
rest would  be  considered  invalid,  as  it  was  imposed  on 
Roumania  at  a  time  when  Roumania  was  no  longer  in 
a  position  to  make  any  useful  sacrifices. 

In  view  of  the  extremely  difficult  situation  in  Rou- 
mania and  the  continual  danger  of  a  total  occupation, 
which  would  eliminate  any  chances  of  mobilization  that 
still  exist,  we  urge  the  necessity  of  publishing  nothing 
regarding  the  reintervention  of  Roumania. 

We  understand  from  the  German  authorities  in 
Bucharest  that  the  peace  proposition  has  been  made  in 
order  to  divide  the  Allies  and  to  influence  the  opinion 
of  the  Entente  countries.  They  state  that  the  Central 
Powers  will  do  all  that  is  necessary  for  the  reestablish- 
ment  of  their  situation  in  the  Balkans. 

(October  11.)  According  to  a  radiogram  from  Nauen, 
stating  the  conditions  imposed  by  Bulgaria,  that  country 
will  keep  that  part  of  Dobrudja  lying  south  of  Cobadin. 
We  have  not  failed  to  notify  the  Prime  Minister  that 
this  is  contrary  to  the  Interallied  statement  communi- 


Alexander  Marghiloman 


CROPS  LESS  THAN   FOOD   REQUIREMENTS     243 

cated  in  a  telegram  from  Kamarvon  of  the  30th  of  Sep- 
tember, according  to  which  Bulgaria  was  to  be  left  in 
the  old  borders  of  1915,  and  the  conditions  regarding 
territory  were  to  be  settled  at  the  general  peace  as  per 
statement  to  which  Mr.  Orlando  has  referred  in  his 
speech.  However,  a  communication  of  the  Bulgarian 
journal  **Presoretz,"  and  a  telegram  from  Reuter,  men- 
tioning the  maintaining  of  the  Bulgarian  troops  in 
Dobrudja,  yesterday  provoked  a  great  wrath  against 
the  Allies,  which  was  expressed  in  most  violent  terms. 
We  beg  our  governments  to  confirm  officially  the  pre- 
vious statements  of  the  Entente. 

In  order  to  rush  the  exchange  of  ratifications,  the 
Germans  have  intimated  that  they  are  willing  to  grant 
some  concessions  as  regards  Dobrudja  and  the  Carpathian 
frontier.  Mr.  Marghiloman,  who,  as  he  states,  is  only 
trying  to  gain  time,  has  replied  that  any  offer  to  this 
effect  is  of  no  value,  the  acceptance  by  Germany  of  the 
program  of  President  Wilson  being  of  a  nature  to  give 
back  the  whole  Roumanian  territory.  He  has  added 
that  Germany  was  in  position  to  give  an  immediate 
advantage  to  Roumania  in  removing  the  troops,  or 
at  least  clearing  the  district  of  the  capital.  The  Ger- 
mans have  refused  to  do  this,  stating  that  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  for  them  to  keep  under  their  control  the  ex- 
ploitation of  the  petroleum  fields  because  of  the  sub- 
marine war.  They  have  stated  that  they  would  rather 
sacrifice  the  last  man  of  the  occupation  than  give  this  up. 

In  order  to  excite  the  Roumanians  against  the 
Entente,  the  Germans  have  told  them  that  the  Allied 
Powers  are  negotiating  a  separate  peace  with  Austro- 
Hungary.  In  the  Germanophile  circles  it  is  considered 
that  in  this  case,  as  Roumania  has  been  abandoned  by 


244  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

the  Entente,  the  best  thing  to  do  is  to  come  to  an  agree- 
ment with  the  Central  Powers  before  the  conclusion  of 
the  general  peace. 

The  day  after  receiving  this  information  I  assured 
Mr.  Marghiloman  that  Roumania  would  be  well  treated 
by  the  Entente,  and  that  all  she  could  receive  would 
be  at  the  hands  of  the  Entente,  as  the  Central  Powers 
would  have  nothing  to  give. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

GERMANS  OFFER  CONCESSIONS  TO  HASTEN  RATIFICATION 
OF  PEACE  TREATY 

{October  16, 1918) 

THE  Germans  are  trying  to  hasten  exchange  of  the 
ratifications  of  the  peace  treaty.  In  order  to  ob- 
tain this,  they  offer  Dobrudja,  including  the  territory 
gained  in  1914,  the  reestabhshment  of  the  old  Carpath- 
ian frontier  and  acknowledgment  of  the  union  with  Bess- 
arabia. 

The  Marghiloman  cabinet,  pretending  that  Rou- 
mania  has  been  abandoned  by  the  Allies,  the  German 
information  regarding  the  cession  of  part  of  Dobrudja 
to  Bulgaria  not  having  been  denied,  is  willing  to  accept 
the  German  propositions.  The  Germanophile  party 
state  that  the  attitude  of  the  Entente  towards  Roumania 
only  proves  that  they  have  nothing  more  to  expect, 
except  from  the  side  of  the  Central  Powers.  The  king 
has  given  formal  orders  to  Mr.  Marghiloman  to  avoid 
the  exchange  of  ratifications  and  to  accept  nothing  from 
the  Germans.  He  has  stated  that  he  would  not  sanction 
anything  in  that  direction. 

{October  22.)  Roumanian  opinion  has  been  favorably 
impressed  by  the  brief  answer  of  Hungar>^  to  the  Austrian 
federalization  plan.  But  a  communication  of  the  20th 
of  this  month,  which  states  that  the  answer  of  President 
Wilson  to  Austria  was  much  softer  in  tone  and  form  than 
the  note  sent  to  Germany,  produces  a  worse  effect  on 
account  of  the  persistent  silence  of  the  Entente  regarding 
their  intentions  towards  Roumania,  while  they  have 
issued  statements  in  favor  of  all  other  nations. 

245 


246  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Ever  since  I  came  to  Jassy,  Prime  Minister  Bratiano 
has  repeatedly,  through  me,  asked  my  government,  and 
President  Wilson  personally,  to  confirm  the  promise  that 
everything  the  Entente  Powers  have  held  out  to  Rou- 
mania  will  be  granted  to  her.  To  all  my  correspondence, 
up  to  the  24th  of  October,  1918,  the  only  answer  has 
been  that  Roumania  will  lose  none  of  her  territory  if 
she  stays  in  the  war  with  the  Allies. 

That  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  Roumanian  govern- 
ment and  people,  as  they  claimed  that  they  went  to  war 
for  the  purpose  of  freeing  other  Roumanians  in  Transyl- 
vania, Bukowina  and  Banat.  They  have  made  immense 
sacrifices,  losing  nearly  360,000  soldiers  and  about  as 
many  lives  of  civilians,  which  was  more  than  one-tenth 
of  the  entire  population  of  Roumania.  From  time  to 
time,  the  Prime  Minister  asked  my  colleagues  to  try 
to  obtain  the  promise  from  my  government  through  their 
governments,  but  without  success. 

I  personally  was  satisfied  that  the  claims  of  Rou- 
mania were  just,  and  I  therefore  telegraphed  to  my 
government  several  items,  explaining  the  position  of 
the  Liberal  and  Take  Jonescu  Conservative  parties,  who 
were  our  friends,  and  who  were  responsible  to  Roumania 
for  the  entrance  into  the  war  on  the  side  of  the  Allies. 
I  stated  that  if  Roumania,  after  all  her  sacrifices,  was  to 
retain  only  her  old  territory,  the  people  of  Roumania 
would  charge  the  Roumanian  government,  friends  of 
the  Allies,  with  treachery,  because  not  only  had  they 
lost  more  than  700,000  lives  in  the  war,  but  their  debt 
was  increased  by  many  milliards  of  lei.  I  begged  our 
government  to  consider  this  question,  especially  as  the 
same  was  in  conformity  with  President  Wilson's  fourteen 
points,  as  the  majority  of  the  population  in  Transylvania, 
Bukowina  and  Banat  were  Roumanian. 


MlHAIL    PhEREKYDE 


GERMANS  OFFER   CONCESSIONS  247 

The  German  propaganda  takes  advantage  of  the 
Entente  silence  to  make  the  people  believe  that  the 
Allies  attempt  to  treat  with  Hungary  to  the  detriment 
of  Roumania.  As  we  are  still  unable  to  give  any  satis- 
factory explanation,  and  cannot  even  refer  to  public 
statements  of  our  governments,  we  cannot  successfully 
fight  against  this  campaign,  which  impresses  even  the 
most  faithful  friends  of  the  Entente. 

Mr.  Bratiano  himself  stated  that  if,  contrary  to 
what  he  expected,  the  Entente  do  not  carry  out  their 
engagements  with  Roumania,  he  and  all  the  politicians 
who  have  been  accused  of  having  started  the  war  at  our 
request  will  be  compelled  to  admit  their  error  publicly, 
and  give  up  their  political  careers.  In  conformity  with 
our  previous  telegrams,  we  beg  our  governments  to  make 
a  clear  statement  in  order  to  bring  an  end  to  this  cam- 
paign, which  gravely  injures  our  cause. 

The  fact  that  Roumania  is  actually  governed  by  a 
Germanophile  cabinet,  imposed  by  the  enemy,  should 
not  be  reason  to  delay  this  statement.  On  the  contrary, 
it  is  the  absence  of  such  a  statement  that  gives  the  power 
to  this  cabinet.  We  beg  to  repeat  that  this  cabinet 
will  be  replaced  by  Ententist  members  as  soon  as  the 
king  recovers  his  liberty  to  decide,  and  we  call  attention 
to  the  fact  that  there  has  been  agitation  on  account  of 
a  telegram  from  the  French  government  regai'ding 
Dobrudja.  This  telegram  not  only  makes  reference  to 
the  national  aspirations  of  Roumania,  but  creates  the 
understanding  that  their  rights  to  Dobmdja,  i.  e.,  to  its 
old  territory,  might  be  discussed  at  the  general  peace. 

Several  prominent  Russians,  among  them  the  Min- 
ister of  Russia  and  the  Mayor  of  Odessa,  have  stated 
to  us  that  the  people  in  Ukrainia  are  teiTorized  at 


248  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

the  prospect  of  the  Bolshevik  system  that  might  fol- 
low the  departure  of  the  German  troops,  if  they  are  not 
immediately  replaced  by  Allied  troops.  Some  murders 
have  already  been  committed  in  the  freed  places.  We 
think  that  in  the  interest  of  our  future  action  in  Russia, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  make  efforts  to  reply  to  this  appeal, 
and  reduce  to  the  absolute  minimum  the  delay  between 
the  departure  of  the  Germans  and  the  arrival  of  the 
Allies. 

The  help  of  the  Roumanian  troops  has  already  been 
requested  in  case  they  shall  be  in  a  position  to  act  with 
the  Allied  troops.  But  it  is  preferable,  if  possible,  to 
hold  the  Roumanian  troops  for  action  in  Austro-Hun- 
gary.  Also,  in  regard  to  the  Roumano-Russian  hostility, 
the  interference  of  the  Roumanian  troops  might  make 
worse  the  relations  between  the  two  countries,  and  would 
complicate  the  politics  of  the  Entente.  Furthermore, 
the  moral  effect  of  the  presence  of  Allied  troops  would 
be  much  greater,  and  would  permit  the  obtaining  of  good 
results  with  a  relatively  small  number.  The  action  of 
the  Roumanian  troops  would  only  be  in  proportion  with 
the  actual  troops. 

Mr.  Bratiano,  who  desires  to  give  all  the  help  to  the 
Entente  that  he  can,  has  stated  that  he  would,  in  case 
of  necessity,  send  part  of  the  Roumanian  troops  to  Russia 
under  the  control  of  the  Allies.  But  we  beg  to  insist 
upon  the  great  advantage  to  Russia  that  would  result 
from  some  of  the  Allied  troops  being  sent  there  imme- 
diately, where  they  would  get  in  touch  with  the  volun- 
tary army  of  General  Alexeieff,  which  occupies  the 
district  of  Rostow.  This  army  has  requested  that 
ammunition  be  sent  to  Vovoromk  as  soon  as  possible. 
We  recommend  this  request. 


GERMANS  OFFER  CONCESSIONS  249 

The  Central  Powers  have  requested  the  Roumanian 
government  to  make  the  following  announcements: 

(1)  To  repudiate  their  claims  on  Transylvania. 

(2)  To  ask  the  maintaining  of  the  German  occupa- 
tion troops. 

The  Central  Powers  have  sent  Russian  and  other 
agents  to  provoke  trouble  in  order  to  justify  this  demand. 
The  chief  of  these  agents  is  Colonel  Randa,  ex-attache 
militaire  of  Austria  in  Bucharest.  He  has  considerable 
funds  at  his  disposal,  with  the  corrupting  of  the  Tran- 
sylvanian  refugees  in  view  and  obtaining  from  them  a 
statement  of  their  friendship  toward  Austro-Hungary. 
The  Maghiloman  cabinet  states  that  it  is  trying  to 
gain  time.  If  the  Central  Powers  are  successful  in 
extorting  the  desired  statements  from  the  Roumanian 
government,  these  concessions  should  be  considered  as 
invalid. 

The  Germans  urge  the  immediate  exchange  of 
ratifications.  They  maintain  their  offer  of  the  cession 
of  Dobrudja  and  the  old  frontier  of  the  Carpathians, 
also  recognition  of  the  annexation  of  Bessarabia.  But 
in  case  of  refusal,  they  state  that  they  will  take  the 
following  steps: 

(1)  Aggravation  of  the  system  of  requisitions  in  the 
occupied  territory. 

(2)  Prohibition  to  pass  from  Moldavia  to  the  occu- 
pied territory. 

(3)  Occupation  of  the  railroads  in  Bessarabia. 

(4)  Invitation  to  Ukrainia  to  claim  Bessarabia  by  all 
their  means. 

The  king  has  given  orders  to  the  Prime  Minister  to 
do  ever^^thing  possible  to  gain  time,  without  giving  an 
absolute  refusal,  and  to  base  the  exchange  of  ratifications 


250  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

upon  the  removal  of  the  Germans  from  part  of  the 
invaded  territory. 

The  attitude  of  Germany  regarding  Bessarabia  shows 
that  they  do  not  consider  the  will  of  the  people,  but 
only  see  in  this  an  object  for  exchange.  The  king  having 
secretly  asked  us  for  advice  we  have  encouraged  him  to 
preserve  this  dilatory  attitude.  The  situation  of  the 
troops  in  the  Balkans,  and  also  the  views  of  our  govern- 
ments being  ignored,  we  cannot  afford  to  take  the  re- 
sponsibility of  encouraging  resistance  that  might  lead  to 
the  occupation  of  Moldavia,  which  would  make  any 
chance  of  mobilization  absolutely  impossible.  We  urge 
the  necessity  of  granting  no  armistice  except  the  removal 
of  the  German  troops  from  the  Roumanian  territory  be 
one  of  the  conditions. 

We  are  still  unable  to  give  the  least  indication  as 
regards  the  views  of  our  governments  concerning  their 
agreements  with  Roumania.  We  beg  to  repeat  that  in 
all  the  statements  of  the  Entente,  the  national  aspira- 
tions of  Roumania  have  been  omitted,  that  this  excep- 
tion cannot  be  understood  here,  and  that  it  places  us 
in  a  difficult  position. 

{October  23.)  The  local  press  has  printed  the  follow- 
ing statement  of  the  Roumanian  National  Committee  of 
Transylvania,  according  to  a  telegram  from  Budapest: 

"The  executive  committee  of  the  National  party 
have  had,  on  October  12,  a  meeting  at  Cradia-Mare,  in 
which  it  has  been  decided  to  adopt  a  statement  by  which 
the  Roumanian  nation,  in  the  situation  created  by  the 
World  War,  asserts  the  right  to  freely  decide  its  destiny, 
with  the  other  free  nations. 

"The  national  organization  of  the  Roumanians  in 
Hungary  does  not  allow  the  government,  nor  the  Magyar 


Alkxaxder  Const axtinescu 


GERMANS  OFFER  CONCESSIONS  251 

parliament,  nor  any  other  foreign  factor,  to  represent 
the  interests  of  the  nation  of  Roumania  at  the  General 
Congress  of  Peace." 

We  refer  to  our  telegram  of  August  27  as  regards  an 
invention  for  making  bread.  It  has  been  impossible  un- 
til now  to  send  the  inventors  to  London,  and,  in  view 
of  an  eventual  early  peace,  it  leads  us  to  think  that  it 
might  no  longer  be  necessary  to  consider  this  invention. 
The  inventors  are  impatient.  Any  delay  risks  their 
patent  rights,  a  risk  they  wish  to  avoid,  unless  it  is 
proved  that  their  invention  can  be  useful  to  the  Allies. 

{October  26.)  The  statements  of  Mr.  Take  Jonescu 
regarding  the  approach  of  Roumanian  interference 
have  been  reproduced,  according  to  a  Dutch  newspaper, 
the  ''Telegraaf,"  by  the  press  in  Bucharest.  The  pub- 
lishing of  these  statements  is  very  imprudent,  as  any- 
thing justifying  the  defiance  of  the  Germans  can  be 
their  pretext  for  the  occupation  of  Moldavia,  which 
would  reduce  Roumania  to  complete  incapacity  and 
would  complicate  the  task  of  the  Allies. 

Any  reference  made  to  the  eventual  interference  of 
Roumania  can  only  render  this  action  more  difficult, 
and  perhaps  impossible.  We  urge  that  the  telegrams 
of  the  Allies  should  read  accordingly.  We  beg  to  refer 
to  the  telegrams  from  Lyons  on  October  23  regarding 
the  operations  in  Bulgaria,  which  mention  an  alliance 
with  Roumania.  It  would  have  been  better  that  the 
mission  of  General  Berthelot  had  not  been  mentioned 
in  the  telegrams,  as  the  matter  has  immediately  been 
found  out  here. 

There  is  a  great  desire  for  a  clear  understanding 
of  the  interference  of  Roumania  as  soon  as  it  may  be 
materially  possible.     It  is  feared  that  the  Germans  will 


252  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

take  advantage  of  the  least  pretext  to  occupy  Moldavia, 
and  also  that  the  hostilities  will  cease  before  the  Rou- 
manians are  able  to  satisfy  their  desire  for  vengeance 
in  fighting  again  on  the  side  of  the  Allies. 

It  is  desirable  not  to  excite  the  Roumanians,  but 
rather  to  quiet  them  and  to  give  them  full  assurance 
of  the  feelings  of  the  Entente,  as  was  done  in  the  tele- 
gram from  Lyons  on  the  22d  of  this  month.  It  will 
also  be  necessary  to  blind  the  Germans  as  much  as 
possible,  so  that  Roumania  can  rise  up  at  once  to  surprise 
them,  instead  of  giving  them  a  hint  by  early  prepara- 
tions. 

It  may  not  be  forgotten  that  we  are  at  present  interned 
in  an  Austro-German  camp,  Moldavia  being  not  only 
surrounded  by  enemy  troops,  but  also  controlled  by 
the  Germans  or  their  agents,  who  are  at  the  head  of  all 
services.  The  Roumanian  army  has  been  disorganized 
to  such  an  extent  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  resist 
even  a  small  attack.  On  the  other  hand,  nothing  can 
be  done  without  the  help  or  the  knowledge  of  the  exist- 
ing cabinet,  and  the  replacement  by  an  Ententist  cabinet 
would  certainly  be  considered  by  the  Germans  as  a 
provocation,  which  should  not  happen  before  the  right 
time.  Until  further  orders,  it  will  be  necessary  that 
any  action  be  strictly  secret. 

It  must  be  appreciated  that  under  these  conditions, 
the  aid  of  Roumania  cannot  be  but  very  weak.  We 
leave  it  to  our  military  attaches  to  indicate  precisely  the 
conditions.  We  must,  however,  repeat  that  the  king, 
the  politicians,  and  the  generals  indicated  for  command, 
have  never  considered  the  interference  of  Roumania  as 
possible,  unless  the  action  of  the  Allied  troops  would 
prevent  the  Germans  from  hindering  the  mobilization. 


GERMANS  OFFER  CONCESSIONS  253 

Once  this  result  is  obtained,  the  importance  of  the 
Roumanian  miUtary  force  will  rapidly  develop.  This 
force  will  gradually  reach  the  number  of  400,000  men,  as 
the  territory  is  freed  from  the  occupation. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  interference  of  Rou- 
mania  offers  us  advantages  for  our  future  operations. 
But  it  would  be  an  embarrassment  for  the  Allies,  and 
a  cause  of  weakness,  if  it  is  started  too  early  or  found 
out,  i.  e.,  before  the  communication  with  the  Allied 
troops  is  absolutely  certain,  and  would  only  have  the 
result  of  giving  the  Germans  a  reason  to  occupy  Moldavia. 
In  this  case  the  Allies  would  have  to  conquer  the  whole 
country;  the  enemy  would  be  in  a  position  to  get  hold 
of  all  the  railroad  material  which  is  accumulated  there, 
which  would  be  of  great  necessity  to  the  Allies  in  Austro- 
Hungary;  and  if  the  war  lasts,  the  enemy  would  have 
the  benefit  of  the  next  crop. 

We  wish  to  impress  the  importance  of  the  following: 

(1)  To  avoid  anything  that  might  enable  the  enemy 
to  find  out  our  intentions  in  respect  to  the  mobilization 
in  Moldavia. 

(2)  To  take  into  account,  in  the  elaboration  of  the 
plan  of  the  Allies,  the  fact  that,  Moldavia  being  actually 
at  the  mercy  of  the  Germans,  the  mobilization  is  to  be 
preceded  by  an  Inter- Allied  action  in  order  to  give  them 
the  necessary  freedom  of  operation,  so  as  not  to  expose 
them  to  a  useless  disaster,  which  would  be  both  morally 
and  materially  detrimental  to  our  caus2. 

(3)  To  give  to  the  Chief  Commander  of  the  Allied 
troops  the  means  to  insure  the  help  of  all  Roumanian 
forces  in  organizing  as  soon  as  possible  a  powerful  offen- 
sive, which  should  be  sufficiently  efficient  to  prevent  the 
enemy    from   having   time    to    eliminate    the    existing 


254  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

elements  for  mobilization,  or  to  send  to  Germany  the 
troops  in  Walachia. 

In  requesting  our  governments  not  to  fail  to  do  every- 
thing possible  to  reduce  the  risks  of  the  Roumanian 
interference,  and  to  insure  its  efficiency,  we  must  consider 
the  hypothesis  that  if  contrary  to  all  calculations  the 
Germans  should  decide  to  occupy  Moldavia  anyhow. 
In  this  case,  we  believe  we  act  according  to  the  view 
of  our  governments  in  advising  the  king  to  resist  at  any 
cost,  if  the  military  authorities  think  this  will  be  possible. 

{October  27.)  We  learn  from  a  reliable  source  that 
the  Austrian  functioners  of  the  Danube  commission,  who 
were  living  at  Sulina,  have  been  sent  back  to  their 
country. 

The  newspapers  in  Bucharest  are  taking  advantage, 
against  the  Allies,  of  a  telegram  from  Paris,  published 
by  the  ''Gazette  de  Lausanne,"  according  to  which  the 
pourparlers  have  started,  under  the  control  of  the 
Entente,  between  Bulgaria  and  Roumania,  looking 
toward  settlement  of  the  question  of  the  Dobrudja. 
It  will  be  necessary  to  make  a  clear  statement  in  order 
to  stop  this  campaign. 

However,  the  tone  of  the  press  of  Bucharest  has 
become  less  dangerous  since  the  telegram  from  Lyons 
of  the  22d  of  this  month  has  raade  a  favorable  impres- 
sion in  interpreting  the  statement  of  President  Wilson 
in  such  a  way  as  to  indicate  that  the  Italian  and  Rou- 
manian populations,  which  had  not  been  mentioned, 
will  get  back  their  country.  The  best  means  to  fight 
this  propaganda  is  to  confirm  the  foregoing. 

{October  30.)  The  king  has  notified  us  that  the 
Germans  demand  the  immediate  exchange  of  ratifications 
of  the  treaty  of  Bucharest.    They  threaten,  in  case  of 


General  Averescu 


GERMANS  OFFER  CONCESSIONS  255 

another  postponement,  to  completely  starve  the  popu- 
lation of  the  occupied  territor3^  and  to  treat  the  Rou- 
manians as  belligerents.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Ger- 
mans state  that  they  are  still  disposed,  in  case  of  imme- 
diate ratification,  to  restore  the  Dobnidja  and  the  old 
frontier  of  the  Carpathians,  but  they  make  no  allusion 
to  the  evacuation  of  Roumania.  Notwithstanding  the 
insistence  of  the  Marghiloman  cabinet  for  acceptance  of 
these  conditions,  the  king  has  opposed  a  curt  refusal. 

The  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  has  revealed  his 
views  to  the  English  Minister.  Very  desirous  not  to 
injure  the  Entente,  he  wishes  that  the  exchange  of 
ratifications  may  be  effected  with  the  consent  of  the 
Allies,  but  he  insists  that  a  refusal  will  result  in  new 
sufferings  for  the  people.  However,  he  adds  that  the 
exchange  of  ratifications  should  be  effected  with  the 
understanding  that  Germany  will  admit  the  revision 
of  the  treaty  at  the  conclusion  of  the  general  peace. 

We  do  not  know  whether  the  Germans  are  prepared 
to  accept  this  restriction,  which  seems  practically  to 
take  away  the  value  of  the  desired  action,  except  for  a 
moral  effect.  In  conformity  with  the  demand  made 
on  our  colleague,  the  English  Minister,  we  beg  to  inform 
our  governments  of  this  interview,  using  the  means 
which  has  again  been  granted  to  us  for  this  special  case, 
to  correspond  in  cipher  by  the  wireless.  Their  reply 
can  be  sent  to  us  in  the  same  way.  Our  colleague  has 
replied,  dwelling  upon  the  bad  effect  that  would  be 
produced  by  the  exchange  of  ratifications  in  the  present 
circumstances. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Marghiloman  cabinet, 
the  king  and  the  Ententist  politicians  are  more  than 
ever  of  the  opinion  that  it  is  necessary  to  delay  as  much 

17 


256  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

as  possible  the  exchange  of  ratifications,  except  in  case 
it  be  the  only  means  of  avoiding  the  occupation  of 
Moldavia,  and  the  death  of  all  hope  of  a  new  interference 
on  the  part  of  Roumania. 

In  accord  with  all  Ententist  politicians,  the  Minister 
of  Foreign  Affairs  has  requested  that  we  obtain  assur- 
ance from  our  governments  that  the  armistice  be  granted 
only  on  condition  that  Roumania  first  be  freed  of  the 
German  occupation. 

To  prevent,  as  much  as  possible,  the  Germans  resort- 
ing to  new  violence  in  order  to  obtain  immediate  rati- 
fications, it  will  be  necessary  to  denounce,  with  the 
greatest  publicity  possible,  the  difference  between  their 
demands  of  Roumania,  and  their  general  attitude, 
especially  regarding  the  acceptance  of  the  program  of 
President  Wilson,  and  their  statement,  according  to 
which  the  treaties  of  Brest-Litovsk  and  Bucharest 
should  not  make  any  difference  at  the  general  peace. 

The  requisitions  are  being  effected  with  more  bru- 
tality than  ever.  Cases  are  mentioned  in  which  mothers 
commit  suicide  in  the  presence  of  German  officers, 
because  they  are  unable  to  feed  their  children.  In 
fact,  the  Germans  are  systematically  creating  anarchy 
in  Roumania,  even  opening  up  Bolshevik  schools. 
They  try  by  this  to  make  any  mobilization  impossible, 
and  to  provoke  a  request  for  the  maintaining  of  the 
German  troops  in  the  occupied  territory,  so  as  to  repress 
any  movements  they  endeavor  to  prepare.  Until  now 
this  campaign  has  had  no  effect. 

We  urge  the  necessity,  in  the  armistice  conditions, 
not  only  of  mentioning  the  removal  of  all  occupation 
troops  from  Roumania  but  also  of  accenting  the  promise 
that  the  atrocities  committed  shall  not  go  unpunished. 


GERMANS  OFFER  CONCESSIONS  257 

We  ask  our  governments  to  let  us  know  if  their 
manner  of  considering  the  ratification  is  in  conformity 
with  the  advice  expressed  by  us.  We  request  them  also 
to  give  us  instructions  regarding  the  different  questions 
which  we  have  submitted  to  them  in  our  previous  tele- 
grams, to  which  we  have  never  received  a  reply. 

{November  2.)  As  the  Germans  are  trying  to  place 
the  responsibility  on  the  Allies  for  the  destruction  and 
disaster  of  which  Roumania  has  become  the  victim,  we 
have  addressed  the  following  note  to  the  Minister  of 
Foreign  Affairs: 

"We  have  been  informed  of  the  cruel  conditions  of 
which  Roumania  is  the  victim  between  the  Central 
Powers  and  the  Allied  troops,  resulting  from  the  Ger- 
man command  having  placed  batteries  in  the  cities 
nearest  to  the  front,  which  made  it  necessary  for  the 
Allies  to  do  the  same. 

''Thus,  notwithstanding  the  essential  principles  of 
the  rights  of  the  people,  and  without  taking  into  account 
the  state  of  neutrality  proclaimed  by  the  Roumanian 
government,  the  Central  Powers  transform  the  occupied 
districts  into  battlefields.  In  these  circumstances  the 
Central  Powers  are  responsible  for  the  destruction 
incurred  by  this  new  violation  of  rights. 

"We  have  thus  the  right,  in  the  name  of  our  govern- 
ments, to  decline  any  responsibility  in  connection  with 
war  acts,  which  are  not  being  imposed  by  the  presence 
of  any  enemy  in  the  Roumanian  territor>^  and  which 
would  end  immediately  in  case  of  removal  of  the  troops." 

In  order  to  impress  the  Roumanians  favorably,  and 
to  counteract  the  German  propaganda,  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  make,  without  further  delay,  the  statement 
requested    in    our    previous    telegrams    regarding    the 


258  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

responsibility  of  German}^  for  any  ravages  committed 
in  Roumania. 

{November  4.)  The  Germans  are  executing  their 
threats  to  starve  the  population  in  the  occupied  terri- 
tory. Thus,  in  robbing  the  country,  they  create  a  state 
of  misery  and  revolt,  which  is  very  favorable  to  their 
Bolshevik  propaganda,  designed  to  make  mobilization 
impossible  and  to  complicate  the  task  of  our  troops 
wheri  they  enter  the  Roumanian  territory. 

Referring  to  our  different  telegrams  which  we  have 
addressed  to  our  governments  since  June  23  regarding 
the  necessity  of  sending  food  to  Roumania,  we  urge  that 
immediate  steps  be  taken  in  furtherance  of  this  aid, 
which  is  needed  as  much  in  the  interests  of  the  Allies  as 
for  humane  considerations.  Concerning  the  quantity 
and  nature  of  foods  to  be  sent,  we  have  left  it  to  our 
United  States  colleague  to  give  the  necessary  details 
to  our  governments. 


^-iKm-- 


.£lL^ 


Small  Steamer  "Rannenfjord,"  which  Brought  Minister 
VopiCKA  FROM  Norway  to  A:\n:RiCA 


Jassy,  jMoldavia 


CHAPTER   XXVI 

ADVICE  TO  BESSARABIANS 
SECURING  JUSTICE  FOR  JEWS   IN  ROUMANIA 

{November  6,  1918) 

AS  the  king  considers  that  in  the  present  situation 
he  has  sufficient  freedom  of  action  to  compel  the 
Marghiloman  cabinet  to  resign,  he  has  submitted  the 
matter  to  us.  We  have  considered  it  preferable,  the 
same  as  he,  that  a  cabinet  of  politicians  under  the  presi- 
dency of  Mr.  Bratiano  be  not  yet  constituted. 

The  formation  of  such  a  government  would  be  under- 
stood by  the  Germans  as  a  breaking  off  of  relations, 
and  might  provoke  action  on  their  side  that  will  render 
all  chances  of  mobilization  impossible,  and  which  the 
Roumanian  government  would  not  be  in  a  position  to 
resist.  The  impression  has  even  been  produced  that 
the  Turkish  armistice  makes  the  local  situation  more 
difficult,  as  the  German  troops  are  said  to  be  discharging 
arms  at  Constanza  and  Odessa.  As  we  are  not  aware 
of  the  intentions  of  the  staff  of  the  armies  of  the  Orient, 
we  are  not  in  a  position  to  modify  this  impression. 

On  the  other  hand,  that  which  is  of  greatest  im- 
portance in  such  a  difficult  situation,  in  view  of  the 
exterior  and  interior  conditions,  is  that  the  new  govern- 
ment, after  the  resignation  of  Marghiloman,  will  im- 
mediately function  energetically.  The  king  and  Mr. 
Bratiano,  who  are  anxious  to  form  a  national  ministr>% 
have  not  been  able  to  effect  an  agreement  between  the 
different  Ententist  parties,  the  rivalry  between  whom 
is  stronger  than  ever.  The  task  of  the  king  is  being 
complicated  by  the  attitude  of  General  Averescu. 

259 


260  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

A  temporary  ministry  seems  the  only  one  to  meet 
the  exigencies  of  the  situation.  This  ministry,  composed 
exclusively  of  generals  and  functioners,  would  have 
their  admitted  program  to  maintain  order.  In  fact, 
according  to  instructions  from  the  king,  and  under  the 
secret  direction  of  Mr.  Bratiano,  they  would  immediately 
take  all  necessary  measures  for  the  preparation  of  mobili- 
zation, and  to  insure,  at  the  right  time,  proper  action 
under  the  presidency  of  Mr.  Bratiano. 

After  the  Roumanians  had  united  with  the  Bess- 
arabians,  many  people  of  Bessarabia,  property  owners 
and  Jews,  came  to  our  Legation  in  Jassy,  and  asked 
me  to  visit  Kishenev  to  see  for  myself  that  their  charges 
against  the  Roumanians  were  true.  So  at  the  beginning 
of  November,  1918,  I,  together  with  our  military  attache, 
took  a  flying  trip  to  that  city. 

Bessarabia  at  present  has  2,700,000  inhabitants,  of 
which  2,000,000  are  Roumanians  but  call  themselves 
Moldavians,  and  about  700,000  are  Germans,  Russians, 
Jews,  Bulgarians,  Bohemians,  Greeks  and  people  of 
other  nationalities,  living  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 
After  Roumania  was  joined  by  Bessarabia,  many  officers 
in  different  departments  of  the  Bessarabian  government 
were  replaced  by  the  Roumanians,  and  that  accounts 
for  the  great  enmity  of  the  Russians  and  Russian  Jews, 
who  formerly  held  many  of  these  positions. 

The  pro-Russians  claimed  that  their  liberty  was 
taken  away  from  them,  that  they  could  not  hold  meetings, 
that  every  nine  people  who  wished  to  come  together 
had  to  have  permission  from  the  government,  and  that 
the  teaching  of  the  Russian  language  was  stopped  and 
replaced  by  the  Roumanian  language  in  all  the  schools. 


ADVICE  TO  BESSARABIANS  261 

When  I  arrived  at  Kishenev,  many  persons  came  to  the 
hotel  where  I  stopped,  and  talked  about  their  grievances 
against  Roumania.  On  the  other  hand,  when  I  visited 
the  Governor,  General  Vaitoianu,  he  told  me  that  all 
these  complaints  were  without  merit  or  foundation,  and 
that  everybody  was  treated  right  in  Bessarabia.  To 
prove  that  this  statement  was  true,  he  took  us  to  the 
first  village,  probably  an  hour's  distance  from  Kishenev, 
and  there  we  found  at  the  Town  Hall  many  people 
awaiting  us.  The  Governor  asked  them  in  my  presence 
different  questions,  and  a  Bessarabian  soldier,  who  had 
fought  in  the  Roumanian  army,  and  who  was  now  dis- 
charged and  returned  to  his  village,  answered,  "The 
people  here  are  for  complete  autonomy,  and  not  a  partial 
autonomy,  which  we  are  now  getting  from  the  Rou- 
manians." This  remark,  of  course,  was  not  to  the 
Governor's  liking. 

The  same  day  I  was  invited  to  a  luncheon  given 
by  the  Governor  in  the  State  House,  to  which  also 
was  invited  a  committee  of  large  property  owners 
of  Bessarabia.  After  the  lunch  these  men  complained 
to  me  that  Roumania  was  seeking  to  divide  the  land 
among  the  peasants.  They  claimed  that  if  the  lands 
were  cut  up  in  small  holdings,  nothing  would  be  exported 
from  Bessarabia,  because  the  farmers  would  plant  only 
what  they  needed  for  themselves,  not  caring  anything 
about  exports.  They  asked  for  my  opinion.  I  answered 
them: 

"Privately,  I  believe  that  you  should  subdivide  your 
land,  and  receive  payment  from  the  government  ac- 
cording to  the  system  now  adopted  in  Roumania.  You 
asked  for  protection  against  Bolshevism  when  there  was 
danger  that  the  Bolsheviki  would  take  everything  from 


262  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

you.  The  Roumanians  protected  you,  and  now  when 
the  government  wants  to  do  away  with  the  reasons  for 
Bolshevism,  and  wishes  to  divide  your  land,  you  object. 
Don't  you  think  that  your  life  and  property  will  be 
safer  without  Bolshevism  and  under  the  protection  of 
the  Roumanian  government?" 

They  adjourned  their  meeting  without  making  any 
definite  decision.  Of  course  the  majority  of  them  pre- 
ferred to  belong  to  Russia  if  the  Bolsheviki  were  not 
in  control  there. 

The  next  day  we  were  invited  by  General  Vaitoianu 
to  the  University,  where  the  Bessarabians  arranged  a 
great  celebration  over  the  year's  duration  of  auton- 
omy in  Bessarabia.  About  two  thousand  people  were 
present.  All  the  professors,  students,  and  prominent 
men  and  women  of  the  city  and  country  were  there, 
and  speeches  were  made  in  nearly  all  languages.  The 
autonomy  was  praised  enthusiastically. 

At  the  end  of  the  meeting,  the  people  began  to  call 
for  me.  I  declined  to  talk,  but  when  a  committee  of 
ladies  and  the  bishop  came  to  me,  and  asked  me  to  say 
a  few  words,  I  got  up  and  said  that  I  wished  that  all 
the  Roumanian  aspirations  might  be  realized.  I  spoke 
in  English,  and  I  do  not  believe  that  twenty-five  people 
understood  what  I  said,  but  I  spoke  English  purposely 
because  all  the  other  languages  of  the  Allies  were  spoken 
there,  and  I  thought  that  my  country's  language  should 
also  be  heard. 

In  the  evening  I  accepted  an  invitation  from  the 
Czecho-Slovak  colony  to  visit  them.  When  I  arrived, 
in  company  of  General  Vaitoianu,  Governor  of  Bess- 
arabia, we  found  in  the  hall  a  lot  of  people,  including 
many  young  ladies,  all  in  white,  who  immediately  com- 


ADVICE  TO  BESSARABIANS  263 

menced  to  sing  national  songs,  Czecho-Slovak,  American 
and  Roumanian.  Speeches  were  made  by  several,  among 
them  General  Vaitoianu  and  myself.  The  Czecho- 
slovaks, under  the  leadership  of  Captain  Cerensky,  were 
glad  that  I  brought  the  governor  with  me,  as  that  gave 
them  an  assurance  that  they  would  be  well  treated. 

While  it  was  not  decided  positively  in  February,  1918, 
as  to  where  the  Czecho-Slovak  army  then  at  Zitomir  and 
Kiev  would  be  sent,  it  was  hoped  that  they  would  come 
to  Roumania  and  Bessarabia,  and  Captain  Cerensky 
made  preparation  for  their  accommodations.  He  also 
arranged  for  the  hiring  of  other  Czecho-Slovaks  from 
Southern  Russia,  who  should  report  to  Major  General 
Trojanov  (Pragen),  to  reinforce  the  Roumanians  on  the 
border  of  Southern  Ukrainia  against  the  Germans.  He 
was  financed  by  the  French  military  attache,  who  did 
this  at  my  suggestion.  Captain  Cerensky  had  a  very  good 
organization,  but  before  he  could  use  it  the  war  ended. 

Couriers  were  frequently  sent  from  the  Czecho- 
slovak troops  in  Russia,  who  passed  through  Jassy  on 
their  way  to  Prague,  where  they  delivered  their  reports 
to  their  government.  Naturally,  as  they  had  to  pass 
through  the  Bolshevik  lines,  they  had  to  be  effectively 
disguised.  These  men  would  call  on  me  at  the  Legation 
in  Jassy,  and  at  first  it  was  surprising  and  even  some- 
what alarming,  when  Lieutenant  somebody  of  the 
Czecho-Slovak  army  was  announced,  to  be  confronted 
by  a  ragged,  dirty,  unshaved  individual  personifying 
Bolshevism  to  the  limit.  But  he  would  make  a  rip 
somewhere  in  his  clothing  and  produce  a  little  wad  of 
paper,  which,  being  unrolled,  would  prove  to  be  credentials 
issued  by  the  proper  authorities,  and  I  soon  became 
accustomed  to  these  unkempt  visitors. 


264  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

The  next  day  we  returned  to  Bucharest.  To  my 
astonishment,  I  received  newspapers  of  Kishenev  in 
which  it  was  stated  that  I  had  promised  to  the  Rou- 
manians that  the  United  States  would  give  them  every- 
thing they  wanted,  and  on  the  strength  of  this,  the 
Senate  and  the  House  of  Deputies  had  passed  resolu- 
tions personally  thanking  my  country  and  President 
Wilson  and  myself  for  this  great  favor. 

I  immediately  went  to  the  king  and  told  him  that 
this  proceeding  in  the  parliament  was  not  proper,  and 
that  I  had  not  expected  that  anything  like  this  would  be 
allowed  by  the  officers  of  the  parliament  without  first 
consulting  me.  I  then  published  in  the  papers  what  I 
really  had  said,  which  was  of  course  different  from  the 
report  brought  by  the  Kishenev  papers. 

To  my  great  pleasure,  two  days  after  my  return,  I 
received  a  telegram  from  my  government,  in  which  the 
government  consented  to  giving  Transylvania,  Buko- 
wina  and  Banat  to  Roumania,  as  it  was  proved  to  our 
government  that  the  great  majority  of  the  people  living 
in  these  three  counties  were  Roumanians.  So  the  news 
from  Kishenev,  although  false  at  first,  was  true  after  all. 

The  announcement  was  not  made  by  me,  but  by 
my  government  in  Washington.  At  the  same  time  the 
Roumanian  charge  d'affaires  telegraphed  the  happy 
news  to  the  Roumanian  government  in  Jassy.  The 
king  sent  a  telegram  of  thanks  to  Washington,  and 
the  queen  thanked  me  personally,  and  sent  me  her 
picture,  on  which  she  wrote,  ''Thanks  to  Mr.  Vopicka 
for  the  work  he  has  done  for  Roumania."  The  military 
band  and  crowds  of  people  came  to  the  Legation  and 
cheered  for  the  United  States,  for  President  Wilson  and 
for  myself.    It  was  the  happiest  day  of  their  existence. 


ADVICE  TO  BESSARABIANS  265 

Many  streets  in  the  principal  cities  in  Roumania  were 
named  after  President  Wilson,  many  restaurants  and 
hotels  changed  their  names  to  Wilson,  and  many  babies 
were  christened  Wilson. 

Of  course,  at  that  time  the  Roumanians  did  not 
know  whether  the  whole  of  Banat  was  given  to  them, 
or  only  part,  and  they  were  celebrating  as  if  it  were  the 
whole.  When,  later  on,  it  was  found  that  that  part 
called  Torondal  was  given  to  Serbia  by  the  Peace  Com- 
mission, they  were  surprised  and  angry.  They  claimed 
that  Banat  had  a  majority  of  Roumanians,  and  that 
they  should  therefore  receive  Banat  entirely. 

While  it  is  probable  that  if  a  vote  had  been  taken 
throughout  the  whole  of  Banat,  the  majority  would 
have  been  for  Roumania,  the  Peace  Commission  decided 
that  Banat  should  be  divided  into  two  parts,  Torondal, 
situated  directly  opposite  Belgrade,  the  Serbian  Capitol, 
where  the  majority  of  the  people  were  Serbians,  and 
the  remainder  comprising  another  part  which  was 
overwhelmingly  Roumanian.  After  this  decision  was 
made  by  the  Peace  Commission,  the  Roumanians  began 
to  object;  public  meetings  were  held  everywhere,  and 
protests  sent  to  Paris.  The  people  who  were  most 
opposed  to  the  division  were  the  Transylvanians. 

Many  reasons  were  given  why  Torondal  should 
belong  to  Roumania.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Torondal 
is  the  richest  part  of  Banat,  and  the  richest  agricultur- 
al section  in  Europe,  and  therefore  it  is  no  wonder 
that  such  a  great  fight  was  made  for  it.  Threats  were 
made  against  the  Serbians  that  they  would  be  attacked 
by  the  Roumanians  if  they  did  not  cease  their  claims 
to  Torondal,  and  the  controversy  became  one  of  the 
reasons  why  the  Roumanian  Liberal  government  resigned. 


266  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

For  a  time  the  situation  was  so  acute  that  there  was 
danger  of  breaking  relations  between  the  Allies  and 
Roumania. 

The  Roumanians  put  all  the  blame  for  the  division 
on  President  Wilson,  claiming  that  the  French  and 
English  representatives  had  so  informed  them.  I  had 
daily  arguments  with  them,  claiming  that  the  whole  Peace 
Commission  was  responsible  for  it,  because  the  Com- 
mission consisted  of  representatives  of  all  the  Allies,  so 
that  all  the  Allies  were  equally  responsible  and  not  the 
Americans  alone. 

{November  6.)  We  have  remitted  the  following  note 
to  Mr.  Marghiloman: 

"According  to  information  worthy  of  belief,  a  train 
loaded  with  ammunition  destined  to  the  occupied  ter- 
ritory, was  recently  made  ready  to  be  dispatched.  It 
is  our  duty  to  call  the  most  serious  attention  of  the 
Roumanian  government  to  the  fact  that  it  would  be  a 
great  responsibility  for  them,  in  the  new  situation  result- 
ing from  the  fighting  of  the  Allied  troops  and  the  German 
troops  in  the  occupied  territory,  if  they  should  indirectly 
help  the  enemy  or  fail  to  prevent,  by  every  means  in 
their  power,  any  action  of  the  Central  Powers  which, 
by  threatening  the  public  order  in  Roumania,  would 
risk  bringing  on  counteraction  by  the  Allies. 

"We  consider  as  dangerous  the  audacious  propaganda 
undertaken  by  the  Austro-German  agents,  in  the  oc- 
cupied territory  as  well  as  in  Moldavia,  intended  to  create 
a  state  of  anarchy  which  would  complicate  the  task  of 
the  Allies  the  day  the  necessities  of  the  war  compel 
them  to  enter  the  occupied  territory  to  follow  the  enemy. 
In  case  the  most  energetic  means  are  not  used  to  stop 


Reception  by  King  Ferdixaxp  I  of  Roimania,  of  Ameri- 
can Minister  Vopicka.  Military  Attache  Colonel 
Yates,  and  Colonel  Anderson  of  the  American  Red 
Cross,  on  the  Steps  of  the  Royal  Palace  in  Jassy 


ADVICE  TO  BESSARABIANS  267 

this  propaganda,  we  will  decline  any  responsibility  as 
regards  the  steps  taken  by  the  staff  of  the  Allied  troops 
in  this  matter." 

The  tone  of  this  document  was  intended  to  give  the 
Marghiloman  cabinet  a  reason  for  resisting  the  demands 
and  actions  of  the  Germans,  and  also  to  make  the  situ- 
ation of  the  cabinet  unstable,  in  anticipation  of  the 
formation  of  an  Ententist  government.  The  Marghilo- 
man cabinet  had  entirely  ceased,  for  some  time,  sending 
to  the  occupied  territory  ammunition  for  the  Roumanian 
detachments,  as  called  for  in  the  treaty  of  Bucharest. 

As  regards  the  Bolshevik  propaganda,  Mr.  Marghilo- 
man is  suspected  of  resisting  it  indifferently.  This 
tolerance  is  explained  by  the  desire  to  placate  General 
Averescu,  who  enjoys  great  popularity  among  the 
peasants  and  laborers.  Mr.  Marghiloman's  acts  are 
merely  to  outdo  Mr.  Bratiano,  who  v/ould  be  dangerous 
to  the  Marghiloman  party.  General  Averescu  shows 
Ententist  leanings,  notwithstanding  he  is  being  backed 
by  the  press  of  Bucharest.  This  attitude  of  his  seems 
to  indicate  that  he  is  still  in  some  kind  of  an  under- 
standing with  von  Mackensen. 

In  the  new  situation,  now  that  Roumania  is  about 
to  be  freed  by  the  Allied  troops,  the  Entente  cannot 
agree  that  the  government  should  effect  international 
acts  of  importance  without  their  consent,  even  though 
it  is  alleged  that  they  have  obtained  privileges  from  the 
Germans,  these  privileges  being  really  due  to  the  victory 
of  the  Allies.  This  is  an  unamicable  proceeding,  which 
tends  to  mislead  the  public  regarding  the  real  causes 
of  the  legitimate  satisfaction  that  Roumania  is  expecting 
for  her  sacrifices  in  the  interests  of  the  Entente.  In 
these  circumstances,  the  Allies  can  in  no  way  trust  the 
existing  government. 


268  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

The  Marghiloman  cabinet  has  resigned  in  conse- 
quence, and  has  been  immediately  replaced  by  a  minis- 
try of  generals  and  functioners  under  the  presidency  of 
General  Coanda,  who  is  also  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs. 
General  Grigoresco  has  been  appointed  Minister  of  War, 
and  General  Vaitoianu  Minister  of  the  Interior. 

General  Coanda  has  immediately  gotten  in  touch 
with  us.  He  states  that  the  king  had  given  him  instruc- 
tions that  he  should  only  act  in  accordance  with  us. 
As  regards  the  sending  of  police  troops  to  Bukowina, 
we  have  given  our  consent,  as  this  is  absolutely  necessary 
in  fighting  against  the  Bolshevik  propaganda  during  the 
Roumanian  mobilization. 

General  Coanda  states  that  von  Mackensen  has 
notified  him  that  if  the  retreat  of  the  German  troops 
was  in  any  way  being  hindered  by  the  Allies  or  the 
Roumanians,  he  would  proceed  with  plans  of  destruction, 
and  that  all  necessary  measures  had  been  taken  to  this 
effect.  It  is  our  duty  to  repeat  once  more  that  our 
request  in  regard  to  preventing  as  much  as  possible  the 
devastations  of  the  enemy  in  Roumania  has  never  been 
answered.  General  Coanda  has  added  that  without 
openly  breaking  off  with  the  Germans,  who  are  still 
masters  of  the  present  local  situation,  he  is  urging  the 
preparations  for  mobilization  in  the  hope  that,  with  the 
help  of  the  Allied  troops,  they  might  be  able  to  prevent 
the  retreat  of  the  Germans. 

The  Prime  Minister  has  called  our  attention  to  the 
food  situation,  and  has  requested  us  to  obtain  imme- 
diate aid  from  our  governments  in  order  to  remedy  the 
conditions  of  famine  created  by  the  Germans.  As 
regards  the  indicated  quantities  needed  and  the  means 
of  effecting  this  aid,  the  Minister  of  the  United  States 


ADVICE  TO  BESSARABIANS  269 

has  sent  another  telegram  to  his  government,  whose 
aid  seems  the  most  imperative.  Likewise,  the  French 
Minister  has  brought  the  matter  to  the  attention  of 
the  armies  of  the  Orient,  requesting  them  to  send  imme- 
diately whatever  they  can.  Confirming  our  previous 
unanswered  telegrams  regarding  the  matter  of  responsi- 
bility of  the  Entente,  if  they  do  not  quickly  remedy  the 
sufferings  of  Roumania,  due  to  having  fought  on  our 
side,  the  Roumanians  will  soon  be  unable  to  give  us 
any  help  whatever. 

{November  7.)  The  king  has  expressed  his  desire  to 
justify  the  resignation  of  the  Marghiloman  cabinet  by 
the  actions  of  the  Entente,  and  we  have  remitted  to 
him  a  statement  of  our  last  grievance,  i.  e.,  the  sending 
to  Bukowina,  without  our  consent,  of  police  troops  at 
the  request  of  the  National  Committee  of  that  province, 
for  the  purpose  of  keeping  order  against  the  Bolsheviki. 

{Novejnber  8.)  Von  Mackensen  has  informed  the 
Roumanian  government  that  after  the  city  of  Constanza 
had  been  cleared  of  the  German  troops,  it  was  occupied 
by  the  Bulgarian  troops.  We  request  that  this  news, 
which  produces  the  most  disastrous  impression  and  is 
absolutely  contrary  to  our  official  statements,  especially 
to  the  statement  made  by  the  English  Minister  in  accord- 
ance with  his  instructions,  be  immediately  denied  or 
explained. 

In  this  case,  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  into  account 
the  indications  we  have  given  in  our  previous  telegrams 
regarding  the  precautions  to  be  taken  to  weaken  the 
effect  made  by  the  presence  of  Bulgarian  troops  in 
Dobrudja,  if  for  military  reasons  their  provisional 
help  cannot  be  avoided.  We  also  request  that  in  case 
such  decisions  have  to  be  taken,  we  are  immediately 


270  ■     SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

informed  and  furnished  explanations,  in  order  to  avoid 
as  much  as  possible  a  bad  impression.  In  the  same 
statement,  von  Mackensen  has  repeated  and  empha- 
sized his  former  threats  of  destruction  if  the  retreating 
German  troops  are  molested  by  the  Allies  or  the  Rou- 
manians. 

Before  I  left  for  my  post,  in  1913,  I  was  visited 
by  many  prominent  Jews  of  America,  and  before  my 
departure  I  had  a  conference  with  the  Jewish  leaders 
in  New  York,  regarding  the  condition  of  the  Jews  in 
Roumania.  They  all  complained  that  the  Roumanian 
Jews  were  regarded  and  treated  as  slaves,  that  our  coun- 
try was  disposed  to  better  those  conditions,  and  that 
under  the  leadership  of  America  the  Jewish  question 
should  be  settled,  so  that  the  Jews  would  obtain  not 
only  their  liberty  but  equality  with  the  other  inhabitants 
of  Roumania. 

Soon  after  I  arrived  in  Bucharest  and  had  been 
received  as  Minister  of  the  United  States  to  Roumania, 
I  began  an  investigation  to  ascertain  why  so  few  Jewish 
subjects  of  that  country  were  permitted  to  become 
citizens,  and  why  so  much  ill  feeling  existed  against 
them.  I  even  spoke  to  King  Carol  and  to  the  present 
King  Ferdinand  concerning  it.     King  Carol  said  to  me: 

"The  Jews  are  better  educated  than  the  Roumanians, 
so  we  must  first  build  schools  where  our  own  people 
may  be  taught.  Then  in  twenty  years  the  Roumanians 
will  be  well  enough  educated  to  vote  on  the  question  of 
whether  or  not  the  Jews  shall  be  admitted  to  citizenship." 

To  this  I  answered:  "That  is  too  long  a  time. 
Neither  you  nor  I  will  have  a  chance  to  see  that  reform." 

When  Roumania  entered  the  war,  in  August,  1916, 


ADVICE  TO  BESSARABIANS  271 

the  Jewish  question  became  more  acute  than  ever,  for 
many  Jews  were  charged  with  being  German  spies,  and 
many  were  arrested  and  interned  and  their  property 
confiscated.  I  took  the  part  of  the  Jews,  defended  them 
before  the  Roumanian  government,  and  succeeded  in 
having  many  of  them  freed  and  their  property  returned 
to  them. 

The  most  important  matter  in  connection  with  the 
Jewish  situation  developed  in  1917,  when  the  seat  of 
the  Roumanian  government  was  in  Jassy.  When  I 
arrived  there,  September  16,  Mr.  Moritz  Wachtel, 
President  of  the  Banca  Moldavia,  informed  me  that 
he  could  furnish  proof  that  Jewish  soldiers  in  the  Rou- 
manian service  were  taken  from  their  various  regiments 
and  placed  in  the  front  lines,  so  that  they  would  be  the 
first  to  get  killed;  also  that  they  were  inhumanly  treated 
by  Roumanian  officers  and  soldiers  alike,  and  that  they 
failed  to  receive  advancement  or  any  reward  for  heroic 
conduct.  On  the  other  hand,  Prime  Minister  Bratiano 
and  other  Roumanian  officials  complained  that  many 
Jewish  soldiers  were  deserters  and  German  spies. 

The  king  told  me  that  he  would  favor  a  decree  con- 
ferring citizenship  on  all  Jews  serving  in  the  army,  but 
at  the  same  time  he  stated  that  many  Jewish  soldiers 
were  deserters.  I  suggested  that  if  they  were  given 
equal  rights  it  might  not  be  so.  Later,  I  investigated 
these  charges  and  countercharges  and  became  satis- 
fied that  the  Jewish  soldiers  were  badly  treated  by  some 
officers,  and  also  that  the  accusation  that  many  of  them 
were  deserters  was  true. 

Early  in  November,  1918,  information  reached  me 
that  the  Roumanians  were  preparing  a  pogrom  to  start 
on  the   12th  of  that   month.     A  young  lawyer  from 

18 


272  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Bucharest  sent  me  a  letter  in  which  he  appealed  to  me 
to  use  what  influence  I  had  to  stop  the  threatened 
pogrom.  When  I  was  convinced  that  I  had  sufficient 
evidence  to  justify  prompt  action,  I  prepared  a  letter 
to  the  Prime  Minister,  General  Coanda,  in  which  I 
called  attention  to  the  expected  pogrom,  and  asked 
that  he  take  steps  to  stop  it  at  once.  To  assure  prompt 
compliance,  I  delivered  the  letter  personally,  and  I 
told  the  Minister  that  my  country  had  entered  the  war 
solely  for  the  sake  of  humanity,  that  if  Roumania  should 
start  killing  the  Jews,  she  should  not  expect  anything 
from  the  Peace  Conference,  and  that  most  likely  I  would 
be  obliged  to  quit  my  post,  as  my  government  would  not 
overlook  such  an  outrage. 

General  Coanda  assured  me  he  would  do  everything 
in  his  power  to  avert  the  massacre,  that  he  would  im- 
mediately give  orders  by  telegraph,  and  that  where 
there  was  no  telegraphic  communication  he  would  send 
messengers.  A  few  weeks  later  he  told  me  that  the 
Germans  had  made  the  preparations  for  the  pogrom  in 
order  to  discredit  Roumania  before  the  world  and  the 
Peace  Conference.  Pogroms  were  started  on  the  12th 
of  November  in  Braila  and  Bucharest,  but  were  sup- 
pressed by  the  military  authorities. 

Whenever  I  had  a  chance  to  speak  to  the  king  or 
to  the  Roumanian  ministers  concerning  the  Jews,  I 
urged  that  citizenship  and  equal  rights  be  given  them, 
and  argued  that  that  course  would  be  the  best,  not  only 
for  them,  but  also  for  Roumania.  A  decree  finally  was 
proclaimed,  purporting  to  confer  such  rights,  and  I  sub- 
mitted it  for  an  opinion  to  my  counsel,  who  reported 
that  it  contained  what  some  people  are  pleased  to  term 
a  ** joker,"  and  that  it  was  of  very  little,  if  any,  value. 


ADVICE  TO  BESSARABIANS  273 

I  therefore  suggested  to  the  Jewish  Committee  that 
the  members  call  upon  the  Prime  Minister,  and  ask  for 
a  new  decree  which  would  be  so  clear  as  not  to  be  subject 
to  an  unfavorable  construction.  I  also  appealed  to  the 
government.  In  the  early  part  of  May,  1919,  the  new 
decree  was  issued,  and  this,  according  to  the  opinion  of 
a  Jewish  lawyer  and  the  Jewish  Committee,  was  clear 
and  satisfactory,  assuring  citizenship  to  all  Jews  bom  in 
Roumania  and  equal  rights  with  other  subjects  of  that 
country. 

During  the  war,  the  Jews,  like  the  other  inhabitants 
of  Moldavia,  especially  in  Jassy,  suffered  from  scarcity 
of  food,  and  at  this  critical  time  the  American  Joint 
Distribution  Committee  of  New  York  came  to  their 
rescue,  and  sent  them  many  thousands  of  dollars,  with 
which  provisions  were  bought  under  my  supervision. 
This  society  deserves  great  credit  for  the  diminution  of 
misery  among  the  Jews  at  that  time. 

In  the  month  of  December  I  received  a  cable  from 
the  Department  of  State  at  Washington,  instructing  me 
to  investigate  a  report  that  a  new  pogrom  against  the 
Jews  was  to  be  started  in  Bessarabia.  I  immediately 
sent  two  men  to  investigate,  and  they  informed  me  that 
there  were  no  indications  of  any  trouble.  After  receiving 
this  report,  I  laid  the  matter  before  King  Ferdinand, 
who  assured  me  that  the  Bessarabian  Jews  had  no  reason 
to  be  fearful,  and  that  all  precautionary  measures  neces- 
sary for  their  future  protection  would  be  taken.  This 
was  satisfactory  to  me,  and,  in  fact,  no  trouble  occurred. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

KING  FERDINAND  CABLES  PRESIDENT  WILSON  — 
CESSATION  OF  ALL  HOSTILITIES 

AFTER  November  1,  1918,  I  frequently  talked  the 
military  situation  over  with  Colonel  Yates,  our 
military  attache.  We  both  agreed  that  Roumania 
should  enter  the  war  again  for  the  benefit  of  the  Allies. 
After  the  resignation  of  the  Marghiloman  cabinet,  there 
was  nothing  to  keep  the  Roumanians  from  adopting  this 
course,  and  I  therefore  obtained  an  audience  with  the 
King  on  November  9,  at  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  in 
which  I  stated  that  it  was  not  only  in  the  interest  of  the 
Allies,  but  for  the  great  interest  of  Roumania  as  well, 
to  enter  the  war  again  before  the  armistice,  of  which 
there  was  now  so  much  talk. 

The  king  thought  well  of  it  and  called  in  Prince 
Stirbey,  with  whom  he  usually  conferred.  After  an 
hour  of  consideration,  it  was  agreed  that  a  meeting  of 
the  Entente  ministers  and  the  Prime  Minister  be  called 
for  6  o'clock  the  same  evening.  The  meeting  was  held 
at  6:30,  and  it  was  decided  to  immediately  give  the 
Germans  twenty-four  hours'  notice,  and  that  after  the 
expiration  of  that  time  Roumania  would  consider  herself 
at  war  again  with  the  Central  Powers. 

This  was  done  with  enthusiasm,  which  was  greatly 
accentuated  when  the  French  Minister  announced  the 
receipt  of  a  telegram  notifying  him  of  the  arrival  at 
the  Danube  River  of  the  Allied  troops  under  command 
of  General  Berthelot,  who  was  known  to  be  a  staunch 
friend  of  Roumania.    At  the  same  time  mobilization  of 

274 


Queen  Marie  at  the  Canteen  of  the 
American  Red  Cross  in  J  assy  with  Colo- 
nel Anderson 


Members  di-  tui;  American  Red  Cross  Commission,  and 
Doctors  and  Nurses  for  Roumania,  at  Jassy 


CESSATION  OF  ALL  HOSTILITIES  275 

the  army  was  ordered,  so  Roumania  had  actually  re- 
entered the  war  before  the  general  armistice. 

The  new  declaration  of  war  was  a  great  surprise  to 
the  Germans  in  Bucharest,  who  seemed  to  think  their 
position  there  absolutely  secure.  They  had  arranged 
for  a  repetition  of  a  perfonnance  the  following  day  in  the 
Roumanian  National  Theatre  but  it  was  never  given,  as 
the  troops  were  in  too  great  haste  to  leave  the  city. 

The  king's  joy  was  great,  and  he  sent  the  following 
telegram  to  our  President: 

Mr.  Wilson,  President  of  the  United  States, 

Washington. 

At  the  same  time  that  we  received  your  government 's  wonder- 
ful message  concerning  Roumania  and  the  Roumanian  people, 
we  heard  of  the  Allied  troops'  arrival  on  the  Danube.  After 
long  and  unheard  of  sufferings  and  humiliations,  we  are  at  last 
able  to  act  again. 

The  Roumanian  people  have  taken  up  their  arms,  and  with 
the  support  of  their  faithful  Allies  they  are  looking  forward  to 
accomplishing  their  national  ideal. 

In  these  moments  our  grateful  thoughts  are  directed  towards 
America,  who  entered  this  war  for  the  cause  of  justice  and 
humanity  of  all  nations. 

Ferdinand. 

On  the  10th  of  November  I  was  awakened  early  in 
the  morning  by  the  music  of  a  military  band  and  the 
noise  of  a  great  crowd,  who  congregated  before  the 
Legation  and  cheered  for  the  United  States,  President 
Wilson  and  myself.  Later  in  the  day  I  was  invited  by 
the  French  Minister  to  come  to  his  Legation,  and  there 
I  met  the  Ministers  of  Great  Britain  and  Italy.  On 
the  outside  the  band  was  playing  and  speeches  were 
made. 

All  were  filled  with  joy  that  mobilization  was  actually 
ordered,  and  that  the  Roumanians  were  again  to  march 


276  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

with  the  Allies,  and  we,  the  four  Allied  ministers, 
realized  that  the  Roumanians  had  moral  and  political 
right  behind  their  claims,  for  Roumania  had  done  all 
in  her  power  to  aid  the  Allies  in  the  great  war,  and  had 
helped  them  to  gain  the  victory. 

The  king  had  immediately  answered  the  appeal  of 
General  Berthelot,  without  hesitation  and  without 
awaiting  the  further  news  that  the  Danube  had  been 
crossed  by  the  Allied  troops. 

We  realized  that  in  the  present  miserable  state  of 
Roumania,  the  immediate  value  of  the  mobilization  was 
mainly  its  moral  effect.  But  we  believed  that  as  the 
Allies  were  gradually  able  to  aid  them,  the  Roumanian 
help  would  become  of  great  importance. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  November  11,  the  wireless 
gave  us  the  glad  tidings  of  the  armistice.  Immediately 
all  else  was  forgotten,  and  the  people  poured  into  the 
streets  from  the  public  buildings  and  offices,  and  from 
their  homes.  Parades  were  formed,  bands  played  and 
the  people  sang  and  cheered.  Owing  to  the  abruptness 
of  the  announcement,  there  was  but  little  opportunity 
for  orderly  demonstration,  but  there  was  no  friction,  as 
all  were  too  happy  to  care  how  much  they  were  pushed 
and  jostled. 

There  was  but  one  note  of  disappointment,  and  that 
was  that  the  enemy  would  probably  not  receive  adequate 
punishment  for  the  suffering  the  Roumanians  had 
undergone.  Bratiano  and  Take  Jonescu  voiced  the 
popular  sentiment  of  all  Roumania  when  they  stated 
that  instead  of  an  armistice,  it  would  have  been  far  better 
if  the  Allies  had  marched  their  armies  to  Berlin. 

{November  13.)  We,  the  four  Ministers  of  the  Allies, 
have  sent  to  the  Peace  Commission  our  views  as  follows. 


CESSATION  OF  ALL  HOSTILITIES  277 

As  regards  the  peace  conditions  the  preliminary  points 
to  which  the  agreement  of  the  Allies  should  be  obtained 
are: 

(1)  Unity  of  representation  of  Russia  at  the  Peace 
Conference,  with  exclusion  of  the  Bolshevik  delegates 
and  territorial  groups  who  have  other  views  than  the 
aim  of  the  voluntary  army. 

(2)  Annulment  of  political  and  economical  treaties 
with  Germany  and  her  allies;  reestablishment  of  the 
rights  that  have  been  attacked  by  these  treaties;  indem- 
nity of  damages  caused  in  this  way;  restitution  of  the 
gold,  the  military  and  commercial  fleet,  the  equipment, 
railroad  material,  etc.,  and  the  sending  of  exports  of 
foods  and  material  from  Russia.  This  demand  does 
not  regard  the  treaties  with  the  Entente  Powers. 

(3)  Removal  of  the  troops  of  Germany  and  her 
allies  from  the  Russian  territory  according  to  the  borders 
in  1914,  including  Finland.  It  is  also  considered  wise 
to  make  a  similar  demand  as  regards  Poland. 

(4)  The  occupation  of  the  principal  railroad  centers 
and  other  places  of  military  importance  in  the  Russian 
territory,  now  occupied  by  the  German  and  Austro- 
Hungarian  armies,  by  Russian  forces,  or  provisionally 
by  the  Allies  until  the  necessary  Russian  detachments 
have  been  formed. 

(5)  The  immediate  exchange  of  prisoners. 

(6)  The  engagement  on  the  part  of  Germany  and 
her  allies  not  to  prevent  in  any  way  the  reestablishment 
of  a  strong  and  lasting  State  organization  in  Russia. 

Mr.  Poklewsky,  Minister  of  Russia,  has  been  intro- 
duced to  us  as  a  representative  of  the  voluntary  army 
formed  by  Alexeieff,  at  present  under  the  command  of 
General  Denikine.    We  understand  that  this  army  is  the 


278  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

only  national  force  that  can  be  a  basis  for  the  recon- 
stitution  of  Russia  with  the  help  of  the  Entente. 

Mr.  Poklewsky  states  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary 
for  Allied  troops  to  be  sent  to  Russia,  and  especially  to 
Ukrainia,  as  quickly  as  possible  after  the  departure  of 
the  German  troops,  in  order  to  check  the  spread  of 
Bolshevism.  The  Ukrainians  are  in  deadly  fear  of  this 
element. 

The  Roumanian  government  has  stopped  all  move- 
ments of  troops  at  the  time  stipulated  by  Marshal  Foch. 
This  order  has  been  maintained  wherever  there  were 
enemy  military  forces,  but  the  government  has  notified 
us  of  the  necessity  of  interfering  wherever  anarchy  has 
been  created  by  the  Germans,  where  the  Roumanian 
population  asks  for  help,  especially  in  Bukowina  and 
Transylvania,  where  excesses  have  been  committed  by 
the  Austrian  and  Hungarian  Bolsheviki.  We  have 
advised  the  Roumanian  government  that  the  order  of 
Marshal  Foch  applied  only  to  strictly  military  opera- 
tions and  not  to  police  operations. 

{November  20.)  The  Committee  of  Dobrudja  has 
sent  us  an  address  requesting  our  intercedence  with  our 
governments  to  hurry  the  departure  of  the  Bulgarian 
troops  and  authorities  from  Dobrudja,  in  order  to  make 
it  possible  for  the  refugee  population  in  Moldavia  and 
Bessarabia  to  return  to  their  homes. 

The  delegates  of  the  National  Committee  of  Transyl- 
vania have  come  to  Jassy  to  notify  us,  and  also  the 
Roumanian  government,  of  their  decision  to  proclaim 
their  union  with  Roumania  as  soon  as  the  Transylvania 
unities  which  are  being  formed  shall  be  strong  enough 
for  protection  against  the  Hungarian  troops. 

A  new  appeal  to  our  governments  by  the  Russian 


First  Trip  of  Minister  Vopicka  to  Address  the  Russian 
Soldiers  near  Galatz,  Roumania,  with  Roumanian  Min- 
ister A.  Constantinescu,  American  Military  Attache 
Colonel  Yates,  Colonel  Glasgow  and  Major  Flexner, 
Members  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  with  Generals 
and  Officers  of  Roumanian  and  Russian  Armies 


Russian  ^Iilitarv  Headquarters  at  Ajud,  Rou.\l\nia 


CESSATION  OF  ALL  HOSTILITIES  279 

delegates  has  been  received.  We  again  urge  the  neces- 
sity of  interference.  This  will  prove  easier  and  more 
efficient  if  effected  as  soon  as  possible. 

We  have  advised  our  governments  as  follows: 

(1)  That  the  Ukrainians  have  organized  a  rebellion 
in  the  district  of  Kiev  in  which  nationalists,  anarchists 
and  Bolsheviki  have  taken  part. 

(2)  That  this  rebellion  is  the  more  dangerous,  because, 
owing  to  the  complete  disintegration  of  the  Austro- 
German  troops,  the  invasion  of  the  Bolshevik  army  in 
the  country  might  spread  considerably. 

(3)  That  the  Bolshevik  troops  threaten  especially 
the  northern  border  of  Ukrainia. 

(4)  That  in  case  of  the  realization  of  this  threat 
the  rich  collieries  of  the  Don  district,  which  are  of  the 
greatest  importance  to  the  transportation  lines,  also  the 
factories  and  military  depots,  will  consequently  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  Bolsheviki,  which  might  result  in  the 
complete  control  of  Ukrainia  by  the  Bolsheviki. 

We  thinlc  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  the  followmg 
steps: 

(1)  To  send  immediately  Inter-Allied  troops,  even  a 
small  number  will  be  sufficient,  to  occupy  Kiev  and 
Charkhow. 

(2)  To  make  a  clear  statement  conveying  the  firm 
decision  of  the  Allies  to  help  the  orderly  elements  in 
Russia. 

(3)  To  advise  the  German  government  that  the  Allies 
will  hold  the  Germans  responsible  for  any  aid  to  the 
rebellious  troops,  either  by  selling  or  giving  them  arms, 
or  for  any  attempt  to  use  the  arms  at  the  depot  of  Kiev. 

Failing  immediate  action  to  suppress  the  rebellion 


280  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

with  greater  forces  within  a  short  time,  this  situation 
might  require  a  campaign  lasting  several  months. 

{November  21.)  The  Roumanian  government  has 
delivered  us  the  following,  with  a  request  to  transmit 
it  to  our  governments: 

''The  German  troops  that  are  still  in  Roumania  do 
not  respect  the  conditions  imposed  by  the  armistice, 
in  fact,  said  troops  are  devastating  the  territory  they 
leave,  and  especially  they  blow  up  the  bridges,  thus 
rendering  the  communications  and  the  feeding  of  the 
population  impossible.  In  the  occupied  territory  they 
are  taking  away  all  provisions,  furniture,  and  animals. 
These  things  which  are  being  taken  away  from  the  poor 
population  are  being  sold  in  Transylvania." 

In  consequence,  the  Roumanian  government  requests 
our  governments  to  put  in  a  protest  to  this  effect  with 
the  German  government,  and  get  them  to  consent  that 
a  commission  be  formed,  composed  of  Allied  and  Rou- 
manian officers,  to  watch  the  retreat  of  the  German 
troops  in  Transylvania,  in  order  to  avoid  the  repetition 
of  the  above  mentioned. 

The  following  note  has  been  received  from  the 
Roumanian  government: 

"The  Roumanian  government  has  been  delighted 
to  see  in  the  assurances  relative  to  Dobrudja  the  favor- 
able intentions  and  feelings  of  the  Allies  towards  Rou- 
mania. 

"Roumania  has  never  feared  that  any  part  of  her 
territory  might  be  sacrificed  to  the  benefit  of  the  enemy 
on  the  day  of  the  victory  of  the  Entente,  because  she 
remained  on  the  side  of  the  Allies  even  in  the  most  try- 
ing moments.  The  immediate  nullification  of  the  treaty 
of  Bucharest  confirmed  our  confidence. 


CESSATION  OF  ALL  HOSTILITIES  281 

"We  watch  with  gratitude  the  friendly  efforts  with 
which  the  Inter-Allied  staff  endeavor  to  hasten  the 
liberation  of  the  Northern  province  from  the  invaders, 
who  have  destroyed  the  work  of  half  a  century  of  civili- 
zation by  fire,  blood  and  robbery. 

"It  is,  however,  necessary  to  extend  without  delay, 
in  conformity  with  the  conditions  of  the  general  armistice, 
the  measures  extended  by  the  Allied  command  to  the 
territory  of  the  country  in  1914. 

"The  interests  of  the  people  demand  the  prompt 
return  of  civic  administrations  in  the  whole  province, 
as  prescribed  by  the  armistice  conditions  for  all  the 
countries  freed  of  the  enemy. 

"It  is  just  and  natural  that  the  Roumanian  army 
should  participate  in  the  execution  of  the  necessary 
measures  for  this  operation  and  help  the  Allied  command 
therein,  as  it  would  be  a  great  danger  if  the  available 
troops  were  not  sufficient. 

"To  this  effect,  the  staff  of  the  Roumanian  troops 
has  received  orders  to  take  the  necessary  steps  in  order 
to  act  with  the  Allied  troops." 

(November  22.)  The  Hetman  of  Ukrainia  has  asked 
us  to  notify  our  governments  that  he  has  issued  a  mani- 
festo to  the  people  of  Ukrainia,  to  unite  all  the  national 
forces  in  working  for  the  reconstruction  of  Russia  on  the 
basis  of  Federal  arrangements. 

{November  24.)  We  have  held  a  meeting  with  the 
Russian  delegates,  who  inform  us  that  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  that  about  150,000  men  should  be  sent  imme- 
diately to  Russia  to  reinforce  Denikine's  army. 

{November  26.)  The  Roumanian  government  has 
complained  to  us  that  the  manner  in  which  the  Russian 
prisoners  from  Germany  are  sent  through  their  country 


282  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

is  very  dangerous,  because  these  prisoners  are  in  a  state 
of  indescribable  misery,  all  of  them  either  suffering  from 
contagious  diseases  or  in  such  a  condition  that  they 
should  not  be  allowed  to  travel  at  all,  and  the  govern- 
ment has  asked  us  to  intervene  with  the  German  author- 
ities, in  order  that  these  transports  shall  be  made  under 
better  circumstances. 


]Minist1':r  Vopicka  Speaking  in  Ri  >>i.\x  Soldiers  in 
SuccAVA,  Asking  Them  to  Remain  ix  the  Trenches 
AND  Keep  on  Fighting 


Minister  X'oimcka  Addressing  Russian  Soldii-:rs 


Scene  on  the  Way  to  the  Trenches  Occupied  by 

Russian  Troops  in  Roumaxia 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

PROCLAMATION  IN  BUCHAREST  OF  GENERAL  BERTHELOT  — 
GREAT  DANGER  OF  FAMINE 

TO  celebrate  the  victory  of  the  Entente,  I  had 
arranged  a  dinner  for  Thanksgiving  Day,  Novem- 
ber 28,  to  which  I  invited  Her  Majesty  the  Queen,  and 
I  had  a  promise  from  her  that  she  would  attend.  How- 
ever, at  eleven  o'clock  on  that  day,  I  was  notified  that 
I  must  be  at  the  depot  with  my  personnel  at  12:30, 
and  to  my  great  sorrow  I  had  to  leave  for  Bucharest 
and  the  dinner  had  to  be  given  up. 

On  account  of  the  broken  bridges,  hurriedly  repaired, 
the  trip  from  Jassy  to  Bucharest,  instead  of  nine  and 
one-half  hours,  took  forty-eight  hours.  When  the  Court 
and  the  ministers  arrived  at  Bucharest,  the  legations 
were  not  in  condition  to  be  occupied,  and  the  city  author- 
ities rented  temporary  quarters  for  each  minister  in  a 
public  hotel. 

The  seals  on  the  doors  of  our  Legation  were  broken, 
chests  and  trunks  had  been  opened,  and  many  articles 
of  value  belonging  to  me  and  to  my  diplomatic  friends 
had  been  stolen.  The  value  of  the  stolen  property  was 
more  than  100,000  gold  francs. 

We  found  the  following  proclamation  published  in 
Bucharest  by  General  Berthelot: 

With  the  permission  of  the  king,  I  order  all  the  military  and 
civil  authorities  to  fulfill  the  following  measures: 

The  Prefects,  Procurers,  Gendarme  Officers  and  Mayors 
will  assure  quietness  and  order,  forming  guard  posts  with  the 
men  under  arms  and  the  reserve  officers.  All  agitators  will  be 
immediately  arrested.  All  German,  Austrian  and  Hungai'ian 
subjects  will  be  put  under  observation. 

283 


284  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

The  proclamation  of  the  king,  government  and  myself  will 
be  immediately  affixed. 

All  traces  of  the  late  occupation  must  be  removed.  All 
German,  Hungarian  and  Bulgarian  inscriptions  will  be  destroyed. 
All  postal  and  fiscal  stamps  of  the  late  German  occupation  will 
be  taken  from  circulation. 

In  each  locality  commissions  will  be  formed  for  the  control 
and  assurance  of  food  for  the  population. 

In  the  petroleum  regions,  commissions  will  be  formed  for 
the  control  of  the  production  and  working  of  petroleum.  All 
petroleum  products  will  be  considered  as  requisitioned  in  the 
hands  of  the  actual  producers  and  holders. 

The  exporting  of  any  kinds  of  food,  clothing,  petroleum,  wood, 
etc.,  is  prohibited. 

There  will  be  established  in  the  shortest  possible  time  all 
communications  (railroads,  telegraph  and  telephone  lines).  Men 
will  be  concentrated  from  their  homes  and  will  be  organized  in 
gangs  of  workers  under  reserve  officers. 

The  Procurors  and  Judges  of  Instruction  will  prove  up  all 
destruction  and  violation  of  rights  by  the  enemy,  and  will  for- 
ward the  records  promptly. 

Physicians  will  report  through  the  Prefects  the  sanitary 
conditions  and  the  need  of  medicines. 

A  service  of  daily  couriers  will  be  immediately  established 
between  all  the  Prefectures  and  the  headquarters  of  the  army 
at  Giurgiu. 

Until  new  dispensations,  I  fix  the  rate  of  exchange  of  100 
francs  at  140  lei. 

These  dispensations  remain  in  force  until  later  dispensations 
of  the  Roumanian  government. 

They  will  be  posted  in  all  towns  and  villages. 

Berthelot. 

The  people  in  Bucharest  were  dazed  when  they 
saw  their  king  and  the  diplomatic  corps  again  in  their 
capital.  For  two  years  the  Germans  had  occupied 
Bucharest,  and  it  was  only  three  weeks  before  that 
they  had  played  German  pieces  in  the  Roumanian 
national  theatres.  Today  their  king  came  back  with 
the  army,  and  the  people  appreciated  the  great  boon 


PROCLAMATION  OF  GENERAL  BERTHELOT  285 

of  victory.  They  felt  that  they  were  again  at  home 
and  rulers  of  their  own  country. 

The  entire  city  was  decorated  with  the  National 
and  the  Allied  flags,  and  there  was  a  great  parade,  which 
marched  from  the  square  in  front  of  the  building  of 
the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  through  the  city.  The 
procession  was  headed  by  the  king  and  by  General 
Berthelot  and  other  prominent  generals,  Roumanian, 
English,  Italian  and  French.  There  were  a  great  many 
Roumanian  soldiers,  a  few  regiments  of  French,  and 
some  English  and  Italian  troops.  The  United  States 
was  not  represented  by  officers  or  soldiers,  although  I 
am  sure  that  the  people  would  have  preferred  to  see 
the  American  soldiers  first.  I  felt  that  the  Americans 
had  more  friends  than  any  other  nation,  as  when  Colonel 
Yates  and  myself  passed  in  our  automobile,  we  received 
the  greatest  and  heartiest  ovation  of  all. 

{December  7.)  The  Russian  delegates  have  impressed 
upon  us  the  necessity  of  an  immediate  declaration  to 
the  Bolsheviki,  and  the  French  Consul  in  Kiev  has  been 
directed  to  formulate  such  a  declaration  in  our  name, 
as  follows: 

"So  far  we  have  not  been  notified  as  to  what  the 
Entente  will  do  regarding  the  Bolsheviki  in  Russia. 

"The  Entente  has  proclaimed  that  a  patriotic  organ- 
ization should  be  established  in  Russia,  which  will  be 
aided  by  the  Allies.  The  regeneration  of  Russia,  as 
one  of  the  victorious  democratic  powers  of  the  Entente, 
will  be  accomplished,  as  it  is  the  wish  of  all  patriots 
and  those  who  desire  preservation  of  order  there. 

"More  especially  in  Southern  Russia,  occupied  or 
unoccupied,  and  threatened  by  Bolshevism,  the  Entente 
powers  are  willing  to  preserve  order.    This  decision  will 


286  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

be  executed  without  great  delay.  The  Entente  will 
from  now  on  consider  all  leaders  of  parties  or  organiza- 
tions personally  responsible,  whatever  their  politics  may 
be,  for  any  agitation  spreading  trouble  and  anarchy. 

**The  Consul  of  Kiev  declares  that  in  the  meantime, 
before  the  Entente  troops  come,  the  Hetman  and  his 
government  are  expected  to  keep  order  in  the  cities  and 
province.  The  Entente  troops  do  not  wish  to  come  to 
Russia  in  the  role  of  gendarmes  or  enemies.  They  will 
come  as  friends  of  the  people,  who  during  the  last  two 
years  have  been  fighting  in  the  same  ranks  with  them. 
The  Entente  advises  that  they  will  punish  riots." 

{December  11.)  We  have  received  a  letter  from  the 
French  Consul  in  Kishenev  as  follows: 

"Several  French  and  Allied  concerns  in  Ukrainia 
have  applied  to  me  for  protection  against  robbery  by 
the  Bolsheviki,  especially  the  society  called  Groshanatz 
in  Podoli.  General  Berthelot,  as  chief  of  the  Allied  forces 
in  Southern  Russia,  declares  that  he  will  hold  all  the 
Bolsheviki  and  their  accomplices  responsible  for  any 
damages  done  to  subjects  of  the  Entente,  or  to  the 
interests  of  the  Allies,  and  that  they  will  be  severely 
punished." 

[December  13.)  We  have  notified  our  governments 
that  several  Polish  people  came  to  us  and  informed  us 
of  the  progress  of  Bolshevism  in  Galicia,  and  showed 
us  the  necessity  of  protection  by  the  Allied  troops.  We 
have  notified  General  Berthelot  of  this  complaint. 

The  king  has  asked  Mr.  Bratiano  to  form  a  new 
cabinet,  and  the  new  ministers  at  present  in  Bucharest 
have  taken  the  oath  of  office.  Mr.  Bratiano  is  to  be 
the  Prime  Minister,  and  will  also  retain  the  office  of 
Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs.    To  give  this  new  govern- 


View  of  Kishenev  in  Bessarabia 


SiBiN.  OR  1Ii:r.\ia.\stadt,  ix    Traxsvi.vaxia 


PROCLAMATION  OF  GENERAL  BERTHELOT  287 

merit  national  character,  five  places  in  the  ministry, 
two  of  which  are  without  portfolio,  were  offered  to 
the  party  of  Mr.  Take  Jonescu. 

{Decefnber  16.)  A  delegate  of  the  National  Tran- 
sylvanian  Council  has  announced  to  the  king  the  unan- 
imous vote  for  the  union  of  Transylvania  with  Roumania. 
The  delegation  called  on  us  to  notify  us  of  the  event, 
and  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm,  and  in 
their  honor  many  celebrations  were  arranged,  in  which 
we  took  part. 

{December  18.)  When  we  arrived  at  Bucharest  we 
found  that  the  Germans  had  taken  all  the  supplies  of 
food  and  clothing  with  them.  There  was  nothing  in 
the  market  and  the  people  were  in  very  deep  misery. 
There  was  no  wood  in  the  city,  and  the  government 
feared  a  great  calamity. 

The  minister  in  charge  of  supplies  visited  us  this 
morning  to  represent  the  gravity  of  the  situation  due 
to  the  extreme  shortage  of  provisions.  His  Excellency 
stated  that  there  were  at  the  most  10,000  tons  of  wheat 
and  30,000  tons  of  maize  in  the  country.  This  amount  of 
wheat  might  last  for  twenty  days,  and  the  maize  might 
last  for  two  months,  if  there  were  no  difficulties  of  trans- 
portation, which,  however,  are  very  great.  This  state 
of  things  was.  His  Excellency  added,  the  more  alarming 
in  view  of  the  Bolshevism  by  which  Roumania  was 
surrounded  and  menaced.  There  are  agitators  at  work, 
whose  cry  is,  "During  the  German  occupation  we  had 
bread,  now  we  have  none." 

The  Roumanian  government  earnestly  begs  the  Allied 
governments,  in  view  of  the  extreme  urgency  of  the 
matter,  to  take  steps  at  once  to  send  from  their  own 
stores,  the  nearer  the  better,  possibly  from  Alexandria, 

19 


288  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

30,000  tons  of  wheat.  Wheat,  furnishing  the  staple 
food  of  the  towns,  where  Bolshevism  is  more  to  be  feared 
than  in  the  country,  is  more  essential  than  maize  for  the 
moment.  We  consider  the  matter  so  urgent  that  we 
beg  that  no  question  may  be  raised  as  to  the  mode  of 
payment,  such  questions  having  caused  great  delay  in 
the  past.  Naturally  the  Roumanian  government  will 
consider  itself  liable  for  the  cost.  I  wrote  a  special 
telegram  to  my  government  asking  that  relief  be  sent 
as  soon  as  possible. 

{December  20.)  The  Parliament  of  Bessarabia,  which 
on  the  27th  of  March  had  voted  the  union  with  Rou- 
mania,  but  now,  under  reservation  of  liberal  autonomy, 
votes  a  union  without  any  reserve.  It  can  be  noted 
by  the  sense  of  the  declaration  that  they  have  full  faith 
that  grand  Roumania  is  a  democratic  country. 

{December  23.)  Mr.  Bratiano,  the  Prime  Minister, 
has  asked  us  to  send  another  appeal  to  our  governments 
for  food  and  relief,  because  he  fears  that  Roumania, 
which  all  through  the  war  has  resisted  the  Bolshevik 
influence,  might  now  offer  a  new  home  for  it  if  the 
famine  is  not  immediately  remedied.  To  his  request 
we  add  that  the  situation  is  very  serious  and  calls  for 
immediate  remedy. 

To  show  that  the  tears  of  the  Prime  Minister  were 
justified,  a  great  riot  took  place  in  Bucharest,  in  which 
a  mob,  consisting  of  anarchists,  Bolsheviki  and  other 
dissatisfied  elements,  surrounded  the  royal  palace  and 
shouted,  "Down  with  the  king!  Down  with  the  royal 
family!  Hurrah  for  the  republic!"  The  guard  which  is 
usually  at  the  palace  did  nothing  until  a  shot  was  fired 
from  the  crowd  and  wounded  two  of  the  soldiers,  and 
at  this,   without  orders,   the  soldiers  fired  and  killed 


PROCLAMATION  OF  GENERAL  BERTHELOT  289 

and  wounded  about  fifty  persons,  and  the  crowd  was 
dispersed.  All  the  public  places  including  theatres  and 
moving  picture  shows  were  closed  for  nearly  two  weeks. 
The  police  arrested  many  people,  among  whom  they 
found  numerous  Russian  and  German  agitators  who 
had  tried  to  establish  Bolshevism  in  Roumania.  After 
this  it  seemed  that  the  Bolshevik  agitation  ceased 
for  some  time. 

{December  31.)  We  have  telegraphed  our  respective 
governments  that  the  food  situation  becomes  more  and 
more  alarming,  and  that  if  the  Allies  do  not  remedy  it 
without  delay,  this  misery  will  cause  worse  troubles 
than  those  of  last  week.  If  they  do  not  from  now  on 
announce  that  help  is  on  the  way,  the  people,  who  are 
dying  from  hunger,  will  charge  the  Allies  with  responsi- 
bility for  great  suffering,  notwithstanding  the  satisfaction 
given  to  the  national  aspirations. 

They  repeat  that  the  Allies  do  not  take  into  con- 
sideration the  fact  that  the  worst  situation  among  all 
the  Allied  nations  exists  in  Roumania,  as  she  was  entirely 
devastated  by  the  Germans  and  the  Russians,  and  is 
the  only  country  which  was  completely  isolated  for 
fifteen  months.  During  the  occupation,  she  could  not 
be  supplied,  as  Belgium  was,  by  the  United  States. 

We  urge  and  we  beg  in  the  name  of  humanity,  as 
well  as  for  the  political  and  economic  interests  of  our 
countries,  that  part  of  the  relief  be  sent  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble. We  also  hope  that  this  help  will  not  be  delayed 
on  account  of  financial  arrangements,  as  happened  last 
year.  It  is  only  to  be  considered  that  food  must  be 
sent  immediately,  and  payment  arranged  later. 

The  official  Moniteiir,  dated  the  26th,  publishes  the 
new  decree  of  law,  which  confirms  the  union  of  Tran- 


290  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

sylvania  and  Banat  with  the  kingdom  of  Roumania,  as 
voted  by  the  National  Assembly  of  the  Roumanians 
of  Transylvania  and  Banat. 

{January  2, 1919.)  A  committee  of  Roumanian  Jews 
came  to  me  and  asked  me  to  obtain  permission  for  some 
five  thousand  of  them  to  go  to  Palestine,  where  they 
would  be  under  the  protection  of  the  Allies.  I  obtained 
this  permission  from  the  Roumanian  government,  and 
then  took  up  the  affair  with  my  colleagues,  and  we  sent 
a  joint  telegram  to  our  governments,  asking  whether  the 
Allies  are  in  favor  of  this  move,  and  if  they  are,  when 
and  how  these  Jews  could  expect  to  be  sent  to  Palestine. 

{January  7.)  The  Prime  Minister  has  notified  us 
that  he  received  a  telegram  from  Carnarvon,  according 
to  which  Belgium  and  Serbia  will  be  the  only  two  lesser 
powers  admitted  to  the  Peace  Conference  with  the 
four  great  powers.  He  said  they  hope  that  this  infor- 
mation is  not  correct,  and  Mr.  Bratiano  added  that  he 
believes  Roumania  is  regarded  as  an  unfortunate  deserv- 
ing pity,  and  not  as  an  ally  with  full  rights  to  justice. 
He  said  that  if  this  be  the  truth,  and  Roumania  should 
be  left  out,  the  government  would  be  obliged  to  resign. 

Mr.  Bratiano  states  that  the  Roumanians  continued 
the  fight  as  long  as  possible,  and  that  even  after  the 
complete  disintegration  of  Russia,  and  notwithstanding 
the  hostility  of  that  country,  Roumania  has  fulfilled 
her  duty  to  the  Allies  as  far  as  she  could.  The  suspension 
of  activity,  as  a  consequence  of  the  Treaty  of  Bucharest, 
which  has  never  been  confirmed  by  the  king,  terminated 
as  soon  as  the  army  in  the  Orient  was  able  to  take  the 
place  left  vacant  by  the  Russian  army.  The  Royal 
government  has  no  doubt  that  their  treaty  of  the  17th 
of  August,  1916,  is  fully  valid. 


General  Grigorescu 


PROCLAMATION  OF  GENERAL  BERTHELOT  291 

We  have  called  the  attention  of  our  governments 
to  the  following  facts: 

(1)  As  a  result  of  circumstances,  the  Entente  has 
not  been  able  to  keep  her  promise  to  Roumania  of  the 
17th  of  August,  1916.  The  offensive  of  Salonika,  which 
was  supposed  to  begin  eight  days  before  Roumania 
entered  the  war,  was  not  started.  Roumania  continued 
to  fight  after  the  complete  disintegration  of  Russia, 
whose  aid  had  been  guaranteed  to  her  by  the  Entente, 
and  although  the  new  Russian  government  has  declared 
war  on  her,  the  Allies  having  done  nothing  to  remedy 
conditions  or  prevent  this  conflict. 

(2)  It  is  absurd  to  compare  the  situation  of 
Roumania  with  that  of  Serbia.  War  had  been  declared 
on  Serbia,  and  she  was  forced  to  defend  herself,  but 
Roumania  was  led  into  the  war  by  the  promises  of  the 
Entente.  Serbia  has  always  been  in  communication 
with  the  Allies,  who  have  accepted  her  government 
and  her  army,  but  Roumania  has  been  in  between  two 
enemies,  absolutely  isolated,  and  it  was  impossible  for 
the  army  to  retreat  to  Russia,  as  is  recognized  by  the 
Allied  representatives. 

(3)  We  repeat  that  the  Treaty  of  Bucharest  has 
never  had  any  legal  value,  as  it  was  voted  by  an  uncon- 
stitutional parliament,  and  has  never  been  confirmed  by 
the  king,  or  ratified. 

{January  9.)  Because  the  Bulgarians  still  occupy 
Dobrudja,  although  the  Roumanians  were  granted  the 
whole  of  that  counto^  this  is  an  additional  difficulty 
for  the  government. 

{January  13.)  We  have  received  from  an  absolutely 
reliable  source  an  extract  of  the  protocol  of  the  last 
meeting  of  the  ministers  in  Budapest.    This  document 


292  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

seems  to  be  too  important  not  to  be  immediately  com- 
municated to  our  governments.  The  text  is  as  follows: 
"  It  is  necessary  to  organize,  as  soon  as  possible,  six 
infantry  divisions  and  two  cavalry  divisions,  also  their 
artillery  and  technical  formations,  and  start  again  to 
fight  against  the  Czechs  and  the  Roumanians. 

"It  cannot  become  worse,  and  the  continuation  of 
the  fight,  a  guerilla  war  if  necessary,  will  convince  the 
Entente  that  peace  can  only  be  made  here  if  the  integ- 
rity of  Hungary  is  safeguarded.  The  soldiers  will  be 
recruited  among  the  best  men,  and  it  will  be  necessary 
to  promise  to  them,  also  to  their  families,  the  greatest 
advantages.  We  are  sure  that  we  will  get  more  soldiers 
than  necessary  to  organize  the  eight  divisions.  I  beg 
the  chief  commander  of  the  army  to  take  the  necessary 
measures,  in  order  that  the  army  may  be  ready  within 
three  weeks. 

"The  bulk  of  this  army  will  be  sent  to  Transylvania, 
where  it  will  get  in  touch  with  the  Hungarian  popula- 
tion there  and  the  socialists.  The  Hungarian  socialists 
decided  yesterday,  the  24th  of  December,  to  send  30,000 
to  40,000  laborers,  who  have  no  work  here,  to  Ardeal 
and  Banat,  to  get  the  population  on  the  side  of  the 
Hungarians  and  the  Serbians.  For  this  purpose  they 
have  received  twenty  millions  from  the  government. 
There  they  will  excite  the  population,  massacre  the 
small  detachments  of  the  Roumanian  army  of  occupation, 
and  start  a  guerilla  war." 

{January  16.)  We  have  sent  the  following  letter  to 
the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs: 

"According  to  the  decree  of  law  regarding  the  pay- 
ment of  indemnity  for  damages  caused  by  the  war,  all 
applications  must  be  filed  by  the  7th  of  February.    As 


PROCLAMATION  OF  GENERAL  BERTHELOT  293 

it  is  impossible  for  us  to  notify  all  subjects  of  our  coun- 
tries of  this  decree,  we  must  respectfully  request  that 
the  time  for  filing  be  extended." 

{January  19.)  We  are  notified  by  the  Roumanian 
government  that  Bulgaria  is  not  keeping  the  terms  of 
the  armistice,  as  she  is  mobilizing  more  troops  than 
allowed,  that  the  Bulgarians  take  away  all  they  can 
find  in  the  way  of  supplies,  and  that  the  Roumanian 
government  cannot  enforce  its  rights  in  Dobrudja  so 
long  as  the  Bulgarians  do  not  obey  the  terms  of  the 
armistice.  We  have  sent  a  telegram  to  this  effect  to 
our  respective  governments. 

{January  20.)  We  have  addressed  a  communication 
to  the  Prime  Minister  as  follows: 

"It  results  from  Article  II  of  the  decree  of  law, 
3795,  paragraph  1  of  the  circular  of  the  Ministry  of  the 
Interior  73,605  bis,  dated  December  21,  1918,  that  all 
the  institutions  and  societies,  etc.,  which  were  under 
sequestration  in  1916,  and  which  comprise,  in  any 
proportion,  enemy  interests,  cannot  claim  any  indemnities 
for  war  damages. 

"We  beg  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Roumanian 
government  to  the  fact,  that  if  it  is  its  right  to  take 
these  measures  towards  the  enemy  subjects,  these 
measures  should,  however,  not  affect  the  interests  of 
Allied  or  neutral  subjects. 

"As  regards  the  foreign  enterprises  in  Roumania, 
the  societies  of  enemy  and  other  subjects  should  have 
been  considered  as  legitimate  before  the  entrance  in  the 
war  of  Roumania.  In  consequence,  any  measures  taken 
towards  such  enterprises  should  preserve  the  rights  of 
the  Allied  and  neutral  subjects. 

"We   ask   the  government   to   execute   the   above 


294  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

named  orders  in  conformity  with  these  principles,  which 
cannot  be  discussed. 

"We  further  ask  that  those  who  are  in  the  above 
mentioned  position  be  allowed  to  file  their  claims,  and 
be  granted  the  necessary  time  for  it." 

{February  4.)  A  delegation  of  the  Saxonian  popula- 
tion, which  forms  the  majority  of  the  Germans  in  Tran- 
sylvania and  Banat,  came  to  Bucharest  to  proclaim 
that  they  are  for  the  union  with  Roumania.  These 
Saxonian  delegates  proclaimed  that  they  have  no  interest 
in  Germany,  from  which  they  have  been  separated  for 
eight  centuries.  According  to  indications  published 
here,  the  adherence  of  the  Saxonians  will  give  the  Rou- 
manians the  majority  in  Torondal  also. 

The  telegrams  published  in  the  press  indicate  that 
it  has  been  decided  in  the  most  pro-Entente  circles, 
that  the  question  of  Banat  can  only  be  settled  after  a 
close  investigation,  and  after  the  removal  of  the  Serbians 
from  that  country.  According  to  our  instructions,  we 
have  formulated  our  reservations  regarding  the  occu- 
pation of  the  disputed  territory,  in  stating  that  this 
occupation  cannot  prejudice  the  destiny  of  this  territory. 

The  Roumanian  government  has  stated  that,  out  of 
respect  for  the  Entente,  they  did  not  occupy  exclusively 
Roumanian  districts  in  Transylvania,  nor  in  Dobrudja 
which  is  part  of  the  former  national  territory.  The 
Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  admits  that  it  would  have 
been  better  to  have  delayed  the  decree  of  law  regarding 
the  union  of  Transylvania  until  the  decision  of  the 
Conference,  but  the  present  state  of  misery  of  the  coun- 
try is  such  that  national  satisfactions  are  the  only  ones 
they  can  grant,  and  this  is  the  best  means  of  keeping 
the  country  free  from  Bolshevism.    We  must  realize 


King  and  Queen  of  Roumania,  with  Oexerals  and 
Ministers,  in  Transylvania 


iMi:.MHERs  OF  Till-:  A.mi:rican   I'ood  Commission  in  Roi'mania 


PROCLAMATION  OF  GENERAL  BERTHELOT  295 

that  because  of  snow  all  transportation  has  been  com- 
pletely paralyzed,  and  the  misery,  even  in  the  capital, 
is  extreme  and  creates  a  real  danger. 

{February  6.)  We  have  received  a  letter  from  the 
Roumanian  government  again  complaining  that  the 
Bulgarians  are  taking  all  the  supplies  away  from  Dobrudja, 
and  they  ask  us  to  see  to  it  that  they  are  sent  away  from 
that  territory. 

{February  10.)  We  have  again  received  a  notifica- 
tion from  the  Roumanian  government  that  the  Rou- 
manian population  in  Constantinople  and  Turkey  is 
suffering  because  Roumania  has  no  official  representa- 
tive there.  They  ask  that  they  be  permitted  to  nominate 
a  Roumanian  commissioner  to  represent  the  Roumanian 
interests  there. 

{February  11.)  The  Roumanian  government  has 
notified  us  that  a  great  part  of  the  archaeological  treasure 
has  been  removed  from  the  museums  of  Southern  Dob- 
rudja, and  transferred  to  Bulgaria  and  put  in  the  museums 
in  Varna.  They  demand  immediate  restitution.  Gen- 
eral Berthelot  notified  General  Chretien  to  inform  him 
of  this  Bulgarian  action,  and  we  have  asked  our  govern- 
ments to  notify  the  Allied  representatives  in  Sofia  to 
attend  to  this  matter. 

We  have  received  complaints  from  the  Roumanian 
government  regarding  the  treatment  of  the  Roumanians 
in  Transylvania,  by  the  Hungarians,  stating  that  they 
continue  to  treat  the  Roumanians  there  very  cruelly, 
torturing  and  killing  people  in  different  villages.  The 
Roumanians  claim  that  the  action  of  the  Hungarians 
should  be  stopped,  because  in  the  territory  which  is 
occupied  by  Roumanian  troops  all  nationalities  are 
protected. 


296  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

{Fehniary  20.)  We  have  sent  a  letter  to  the  Minister 
of  Foreign  Affairs,  in  which  we  protest  against  Article  I 
of  the  decree  of  law  regarding  agricultural  reforms,  as 
follows: 

"Article  I  of  the  law  regarding  the  agricultural 
reforms  prescribes  the  complete  expropriation  of  rural 
property  belonging  to  foreign  subjects,  whereas  the 
national  properties  will  only  be  reduced.  This  arrange- 
ment seems  to  discriminate  between  the  Roumanian  and 
Allied  subjects,  to  the  detriment  of  the  last  mentioned. 

"We  consider  it  our  duty  to  call  the  attention  of 
our  governments  to  the  text  of  this  law,  and  await  instruc- 
tions.   Meanwhile  we  beg  to  formulate  our  reservations." 

We  have  notified  our  governments  that  the  Drogman 
of  the  Roumanian  Legation  in  Constantinople,  Mr. 
Capacosta,  is  authorized  to  represent  the  Roumanian 
interests  before  the  Commissioners  in  Constantinople. 

{February  21.)  We  have  asked  the  Roumanian 
government  that  Allied  capital  should  be  treated  the 
same  as  purely  Roumanian  capital.  In  case  the  Rou- 
manian government  should  wish  to  appoint  a  sequester 
for  an  Allied  society,  we  ask  that  before  the  nomination 
of  the  sequester  is  made,  the  Minister  of  the  Allies  whose 
subjects'  interests  are  involved  should  be  consulted 
about  it. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

DISTRESSING    SHORTAGE    OF    FOOD  — HEALING    BREACH 

BETWEEN    ALLIES    AND    ROUMANIA  — TRADE 

DEVELOPMENT 

{February  21,  1919) 

I  HAVE  sent  to  my  government,  and  my  colleagues 
to  their  respective  governments,  the  following  tele- 
gram regarding  the  food  necessary  for  Roumania,  based 
upon  information  received  from  Captain  Green,  United 
States  representative  in  Roumania  of  the  Food  Com- 
mission of  the  Supreme  Economic  Council : 

"The  amount  of  food  which  it  will  be  necessary  to 
ship  into  Roumania  up  to  the  end  of  November  amounts 
to  an  average  of  100,000  tons  per  month.  This  figure  is 
based  on  a  careful  study  of  the  official  reports  of  the 
Ministers  of  Commerce,  War  and  Agriculture,  and  on 
such  other  information  in  regard  to  conditions  as  is 
available.  The  figures  are,  of  course,  not  prepared 
with  the  scientific  exactitude  which  would  be  possible 
in  a  country  possessing  the  administrative  machinery 
necessary  for  the  preparation  of  complete  statistics 
concerning  the  stocks  now  in  hand.  I  am,  however, 
convinced  that  unless  importations  approximating  an 
average  of  100,000  tons  a  month  are  made,  most  of  the 
live  stock  of  the  country,  and  a  large  proportion  of 
the  population,  will  die  of  starvation  before  the  end  of  the 
present  crisis. 

** According  to  advices  received  from  Mr.  Hoover, 
United  States  Food  Administrator,  the  United  States 
will  be  able  to  furnish  only  25,000  tons  of  cereals  per 
month,  as  a  contribution  to  the  requirements  of  Rou- 

297 


298  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

mania.  I  am  as  yet  uncertain  whether  a  certain  quantity 
of  pork  products  is  to  be  included  in  the  25,000  tons,  or 
whether  it  can  be  furnished  in  addition  to  the  25,000 
tons.  In  any  case,  it  will  be  necessary  for  the  Rou- 
manian government  to  apply  to  the  British  and  French 
governments  for  a  proportion  of  their  food  requirements. 

"There  is  also  very  urgent  need  of  spring  wheat, 
barley,  oats  and  maize  seed;  except  the  maize,  all  seed 
must  reach  this  country  before  March  15  to  be  of  any 
use.  The  maize  could  be  used  if  it  comes  a  fortnight 
later.  Unless  these  seed  requirements  are  satisfied  the 
crisis  will  last  another  year." 

This  appeal  was  made  on  the  5th  of  March: 

"We  earnestly  hope  that  the  three  governments, 
America,  England  and  France,  will  take  into  immediate 
consideration  the  food  situation  in  Roumania,  and  we 
beg  that  we  may  be  informed  as  soon  as  possible  how 
far  the  requirements  stated  can  be  met  by  the  respective 
governments. 

If  it  is  impossible  to  divert  ships  with  seed  for  wheat, 
oats  and  barley  in  time  to  be  of  use,  we  trust  that  all 
efforts  will  be  concentrated  on  the  arrival  here  of  maize 
for  seed  before  April  1.  In  this  case,  it  would  be  most 
helpful  that  we  should  be  enabled  to  publish  widely  that 
maize  will  arrive  in  time  for  sowing,  so  that  the  peasants 
will  not  be  tempted  to  conceal  any  stocks  they  may 
have,  in  order  to  preserve  them  from  consumption  and 
keep  them  for  sowing  purposes." 

{March  7.)  We  have  sent  to  the  Roumanian  govern- 
ment a  request  that  the  execution  of  the  law  mentioned 
in  our  communication  of  the  22d  ult.  be  suspended. 

{March  10.)  The  announcement  that  the  line  of 
occupation  passed  by  Sathmare,  Orada  Mare  and  Arad, 


SHORTAGE  OF  FOOD   IN  ROUMANIA  299 

which  was  given  to  the  Roumanians,  provoked  a  great 
rage  in  the  Hungarians,  who  revenge  themselves  again 
by  new  atrocities  and  massacres,  which  occur  daily. 
It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  Roumanian  troops 
be  sent  to  their  new  line  of  occupation  as  soon  as  possible, 
where  they  should  be  assisted  by  the  Allied  troops. 
Every  hour  of  delay  in  said  decision  will  lead  to  more 
atrocities.  We  ask  our  governments  to  take  the  neces- 
sary steps  to  hasten  the  establishment  of  the  new 
line. 

The  Prime  Minister  advises  us  regarding  the  law 
about  foreign  capital,  that  it  should  be  treated  the 
same  as  purely  Roumanian  capital.  He  cannot,  he 
states,  comply  with  our  request,  as  the  Constitution 
alone  can  change  this.  We  will,  however,  continue  to 
ask  that  this  modification  be  made. 

(March  24.)  The  Roumanian  government  has  com- 
plained to  us  that  the  international  military  authorities 
have  prohibited  the  exportation  of  goods  from  Turkey  to 
Roumania.  If  this  is  true,  it  will  result  in  great  damage 
to  Roumania,  because,  at  this  time,  the  population  is 
short  of  everything.  We  have  requested  that  a  tele- 
gram be  sent  immediately  to  these  commissioners,  ask- 
ing if  this  report  is  correct,  as  we  would  like  to  satisfy 
the  Roumanian  government,  which  considers  this  action 
very  grave. 

To  all  demands  for  food,  America  and  England  an- 
swered first.  Roumania  had  only  one  week's  supply 
of  com  left,  and  no  bread,  when  two  boats  with  more 
than  5,000  tons  of  flour  each  arrived  at  Const anza. 
Afterwards  the  supplies  came  mostly  from  America,  and 
were  distributed  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Green 


300  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

in  such  a  manner  that  he  gained  the  praise  of  the  Rou- 
manian ministry,  especially  of  Minister  Constantinescu, 
who  had  charge  of  the  supplies.  I  am  sure  that  the 
Roumanians  will  be  forever  grateful  to  the  American 
people  for  this  aid  in  their  greatest  misery. 

At  the  time  when  the  appeal  was  made  to  America 
for  the  relief  of  Roumania,  it  was  first  asked  that  the 
Koover  Food  Commission  send  as  much  food  as  possible 
to  Roumania  as  quickly  as  it  could  be  shipped.  At 
the  same  time  an  appeal  was  made  to  the  American 
Red  Cross,  and  the  response  from  both  was  prompt  and 
generous. 

Colonel  Henry  W.  Anderson  was  the  American  Red 
Cross  Director  for  all  the  Balkan  States,  and  Major 
H.  G.  Wells  was  sent  directly  to  Roumania  to  take  charge 
of  the  relief  work  there.  He  established  branches  for 
the  distribution,  in  charge  of  members  of  the  American 
Red  Cross,  and  by  his  systematized  plans  all  sections  of 
the  country  were  afforded  relief.  The  American  Red 
Cross  spent  several  million  dollars  for  the  relief  of 
Roumania,  and  the  benefit  to  that  country  was  in- 
calculable. 

To  the  telegram  of  March  10  which  my  colleagues 
and  I  sent  to  our  respective  representatives  on  the  Peace 
Commission,  regarding  the  line  of  demarkation,  we  never 
received  an  answer,  and  when  in  April,  1919,  the  Prime 
Minister  of  Hungary,  Count  Karoli,  could  go  no  further 
because  his  government  was  bankrupt,  he  turned  over 
the  Hungarian  government  to  Bela  Kun,  the  Bolshevik 
leader  of  Hungary. 

This  new  ruler  aroused  terror  not  only  in  Hungary, 
but  also  in  the  neighboring  countries.  He  imprisoned 
his  political  opponents  and  many  rich  people  outside 


SHORTAGE  OF  FOOD   IN  ROUMANIA  301 

of  political  circles,  and  he  had  many  of  them  executed 
without  trial. 

He  ordered  an  attack  on  two  villages  in  Transyl- 
vania close  to  the  new  border  of  Hungary  and  Roumania. 
In  this  attack  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  Roumanian 
people  were  wounded  and  killed.  At  the  same  time  his 
troops  took  with  them  the  mother  and  sister  of  the 
acting  Governor  of  Transylvania,  Mr.  Maniu.  When 
this  report  came  to  Bucharest,  the  Roumanian  people 
became  very  much  excited.  The  newspapers  blamed 
the  government  for  not  acting,  and  for  not  taking  pos- 
session of  the  new  border  line  which  was  given  to  them 
by  the  Allies. 

During  this  excitement,  which  extended  to  the 
members  of  the  Cabinet,  Minister  Constantinescu  asked 
the  Entente  ministers  and  myself  to  dinner.  In  the 
course  of  the  conversation  there,  this  matter  was  dis- 
cussed, and  the  minister  asked  our  advice  as  to  what 
should  be  done  to  quiet  and  protect  the  people. 

We,  the  ministers,  had  not  received  instructions  from 
our  respective  governments,  and  therefore  told  him  that 
the  Roumanians  could  not  take  possession  of  the  new 
line  of  demarkation  until  they  were  advised  to  do  so 
by  the  Peace  Commission.  I  stated  that  if  in  America 
such  attacks  as  those  of  Bela  Kun  should  occur,  the 
people  would  protest  until  the  government  would  be 
obliged  to  send  troops  to  protect  those  in  danger, 
whether  there  was  authority  to  do  so  or  not. 

No  answer  came  from  the  Allies,  and  the  Roumanians 
marched  the  next  day  and  took  possession  of  the  new 
line  of  their  frontier  as  fixed  by  the  Allies,  although  not 
yet  confirmed  by  them. 

The  same  evening  I  sent  a  telegram  to  the  American 


302  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Peace  Commission  in  Paris,  and  requested  them  to  see 
to  it  that  Bela  Kun  received  forty-eight  hours'  notice 
from  the  Peace  Commission  to  quit,  and  if  he  disobeyed 
this  order,  that  the  Peace  Commission  should  give  joint 
orders  to  Czecho-Slovakia,  Jugo-Slavia  and  Roumania 
to  attack  him  and  make  him  quit,  and  I  stated  that 
by  this  action  the  prestige  of  the  AlUed  Peace  Com- 
mission would  be  preserved. 

I  am  sure  that  if  action  had  been  taken  on  my  tele- 
gram, which,  by  the  way,  was  endorsed  by  the  American 
military  attache  in  Bucharest,  much  trouble  and  many 
Czecho-Slovak  and  Roumanian  lives  could  have  been 
saved,  and  that  the  Peace  Commission  would  have 
preserved  its  prestige. 

Regarding  the  line  of  demarkation,  we  received  from 
the  Paris  Peace  Commission  notification  that  General 
d'Esperey  would  establish  and  supervise  the  line 
between  Hungary  and  Roumania.  After  the  Rou- 
manians took  possession  of  the  line,  Bela  Kun  attacked 
them  from  the  north  and  inflicted  great  damage,  but 
the  Roumanians  not  only  repulsed  the  attack  but  defeated 
Bela  Kun's  army  and  pursued  it  to  the  Tissa  River. 
However,  on  the  order  of  the  Peace  Commission  at 
Paris,  they  stopped  there,  although  they  wanted  to 
follow  him  up  and  if  possible  disperse  his  entire  army. 

While  the  Roumanian  arniy  was  on  the  Tissa  River, 
Bela  Kun  did  not  desist  but  attacked  them  from  the 
south  and  killed  twenty-four  hundred  of  them.  The 
Roumanians  then  went  after  him,  and  did  not  stop 
until  they  came  to  Budapest,  where  they  dispersed  his 
army  and  took  possession  of  the  city. 

In  April,  1919,  I  received  the  following  letter  from 
the  Serbian  government: 


^^^ 

^ 

mmmm 

IttilHiii'ata 

^^-^■-■^.i-:i:X.      1 

iO^J^ 

i*-*dli 

JCI  ^^'^ 

f  Vu!^  ii'  '*»^ 

-  ■ .  J  «--, —    1 

^^p 

i'SM* 

t-J^is^  -Jl 

.■/■z      ■■.,■■-■ 

•  T^T-^^W 

n. 

^^-^st^r^V..  _ 

^^^1 

*^^"*  - .       1 

^g 

^^.^1^ 

■*'^^*%. . 

'  :'-^"  - 

^^^^-"^ 

mi 

Petroleum  Wells  ix  the  Valley  of  Campixa,  Roumania 


Petroleu.m  Rkfixkky  at  Campina 


SHORTAGE  OF  FOOD  IN  ROUMANIA  303 

Minister: 

His  Royal  Highness,  Prince  Alexander,  Regent  of  the  King- 
dom of  the  Serbians,  Croats  and  Slovenes,  desiring  to  give  you 
a  special  sign  of  his  high  friendliness,  and  to  recompense  the 
services  which  you  have  had  occasion  to  render  to  my  country, 
has  designed,  by  Decree  of  December  24,  1918,  bearing  No. 
6159,  to  confer  upon  you  the  Grand  Cordon  of  the  Order  of  the 
White  Eagle,  1st  Class. 

In  handing  you  the  decoration  of  the  said  order,  I  consider 
myself  happy  to  be  able  to  express  to  you  my  heartiest  congratu- 
lations on  the  high  favor  by  which  you  have  been  honored,  and 
take  with  pleasure  the  occasion  to  assure  you  anew  of  my  highest 
consideration. 

{Signed)    G.  N.  Nastassiyetvitch, 

Charge  d  'Affaires. 

On  the  same  day,  I  received  an  official  communi- 
cation from  the  Roumanian  government,  enclosing  the 
following  decree: 

Ferdinand  I 

By  the  grace  of  God  and  National  Will, 

King  of  Roumania 

To  all  present  now  and  hereafter. 

Greetings 

In  accordance  with  the  Report  No.  5112  of  our  Minister  of 
Foreign  Affairs,  Chancellor  of  Orders,  I  have  decreed  and  decree: 
Art.  I.    We  appoint  a  member  of  the  order  of  Steaua  Rou- 
maniei,  in  the  grade  of  Mare  Cruce,  Mr.  Charles  Vopicka, 
Extraordinary    Envoy    and    Plenipotentiary    Minister    of    the 
United  States  of  America  to  our  Court. 
The  named  will  wear  the  civil  insignia. 
Art.   II.    Our  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs,   Chancellor  of 
Orders,  is  charged  with  the  execution  of  this  decree. 
Given  at  Bucharest  this  30th  day  of  March,  1919. 

(Signed)    Ferdinand. 
The  Acting  President  of  the  Councils  of  Ministers, 
The  Acting  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs, 
Chancellor  of  Orders, 
No.  1467  M.  Pherekyde. 

20 


304  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

I  expressed  my  thanks  to  both  governments  for  the 
honors  conferred  upon  me,  but  was  obliged  to  state  that 
under  the  laws  of  my  country,  a  representative  of  the 
nation  was  not  permitted  to  receive  any  decoration  during 
the  term  of  his  official  life.  However,  this  objection  was 
not  regarded  as  insuperable  by  either  of  the  monarchs 
and  each  insisted  that  I  accept  the  decoration. 

King  Ferdinand  had  seen  the  statement  in  a  news- 
paper that  an  act  of  Congress  had  been  asked  in  a  sim- 
ilar case  in  another  country,  in  order  to  permit  the 
acceptance  of  a  decoration,  and  he  thereupon  sent  a 
telegram  to  President  Wilson  as  follows: 

Mr.  Vopicka,  the  United  States  representative  in  Roumania, 
has  given  so  many  proofs  of  his  devotion  to  the  Allied  cause, 
and  especially  to  Roumania  through  all  these  difficult  times,  that 
I  am  very  desirous  to  show  him  my  full  appreciation  of  his  excel- 
lent work  by  bestowing  on  him  a  Roumanian  decoration.  I 
would  consider  it  a  special  favor  if  the  United  States  government 
would  allow  Mr.  Vopicka  to  accept  this  distinction. 

(Signed)    Ferdinand. 

I  immediately  wrote  to  the  Department  of  State, 
giving  all  the  facts,  and  enclosing  the  decrees  and  the 
decorations,  and  these  remained  in  the  custody  of  the 
State  Department  at  Washington  until  I  resigned  my 
post,  when  they  were  turned  over  to  me. 

About  the  first  of  June,  1919,  I  left  for  America,  on 
leave  of  absence  granted  to  me  by  the  Department  of 
State.  The  Roumanian  government  gave  me  a  special 
car  which  took  me  up  to  Agram,  where  another  special 
car  was  assigned  me  by  the  Jugo-Slavians  and  Czecho- 
slovaks, which  took  me  first  to  Vienna  and  from  there 
to  Prague.  I  was  anxious  to  visit  Belgrade  at  this  time, 
but  on  account  of  the  trouble  between  Jugo-Slavia  and 
Italy  about  Fiume,  the  Department  of  State  thought 
it  was  not  advisable. 


SHORTAGE  OF  FOOD   IN   ROUMANIA  305 

When  I  came  to  Paris  in  the  month  of  June,  I  inquired 
of  the  members  of  the  American  Peace  Commission,  Mr. 
Lansing,  Mr.  White  and  General  Bliss,  whether  my 
telegram  regarding  Bela  Kun's  action  arrived.  I  was 
told  to  take  the  matter  up  with  General  Bliss,  who  said 
that  my  telegram  did  arrive,  but  that  no  action  was 
taken  on  it  because  he  accepted  only  the  advice  of 
American  officers  on  the  front  in  such  matters.  Then 
I  told  him  in  this  case  he  could  not  wait  for  such  advice 
from  the  Roumanian  front,  because  there  were  no 
American  officers  there.  But  I  could  not  argue  with 
the  General,  who  did  not  pay  any  attention  to  my 
communications. 

After  I  had  been  in  America  about  two  weeks,  I 
received  a  notice  from  the  Department  of  State  to  come 
to  Washington,  where  the  Secretary  of  State  showed  me 
the  complete  correspondence  between  the  American 
Peace  Commission  in  Paris  and  the  Department,  in 
which  it  was  stated  that  the  Allies  had  ordered  a  block- 
ade against  Roumania  and  were  about  to  break  rela- 
tions with  them.  I  was  much  surprised  at  this  news 
and  immediately  promised  to  return  to  Roumania  and 
straighten  the  matter  out.  I  was  instructed  to  stop  at 
Paris  and  talk  with  Secretary  Polk,  who  at  that  time 
represented  the  American  government  in  the  Supreme 
Council  of  the  Peace  Commission. 

Mr.  Polk  was  very  much  dissatisfied  with  the  inac- 
tivity of  the  Roumanian  government.  He  said  that  this 
government  promised  everything  and  did  nothing.  I 
asked  what  was  required  from  the  Roumanian  govern- 
ment, and  assured  Mr.  Polk  that  I  would  be  able  to 
straighten  out  the  trouble  between  the  Allies  and  Rou- 
mania, if  good  will  toward  them  could  be  shown  to 


306  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

me  by  the  Allies  themselves.  He  told  me  what  was 
demanded  by  the  Allies  from  Roumania,  and  stated 
that  unless  she  complied  with  this  request,  the  Allies 
would  sever  relations.  I  first  spoke  to  the  Roumanian 
members  of  the  Peace  Commission  in  Paris,  and  then 
sent  telegrams  to  the  Roumanian  Prime  Minister. 

Within  ten  days  the  Roumanian  government  com- 
plied with  the  first  request  of  the  Commission,  to  supply 
10,000  gendarmes  in  Hungary  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, and  also  complied  with  the  other  things  which 
were  required,  with  the  exception  that  they  refused  to 
sign  the  treaty  between  Roumania  and  Austria.  One 
of  their  reasons  for  not  doing  this  was  that  they  did  not 
like  the  preamble  of  the  treaty,  the  rights  of  the  minority, 
and  the  description  of  the  special  Jewish  rights.  I  first 
ascertained  what  changes  in  the  preamble  were  demanded 
by  the  Roumanians,  and  then  submitted  them  to  Mr. 
Polk.  He  thought  that  these  changes  could  be  made. 
I  said  that  if  this  was  the  case,  I  could  leave  for  Bucha- 
rest, where  I  could  settle  the  rest  of  the  trouble.  When 
I  arrived  at  Bucharest,  I  was  surprised  at  the  conditions 
existing  there  and  at  the  feeling  against  the  Allies.  I 
called  a  meeting  of  the  Allied  ministers,  as  the  dean  of 
the  diplomatic  service,  and  in  this  meeting  we  decided 
on  action  which  would  adjust  the  differences  between  the 
Allies  and  the  Roumanians.  However,  the  Peace  Com- 
mission was  impatient  at  the  delay  of  the  Roumanians 
and  sent  notice  that  unless  the  agreement  was  signed 
within  a  week,  the  Allies  would  be  obliged  to  break 
relations. 

With  the  representatives  of  England,  France  and 
Italy,  I  served  this  ultimatum  on  the  Prime  Minister, 
General  A.  Vaitoianu.     I   told   him  that  we  were   all 


T.  G.  Masarvk 
Prhsiokxt  of  Czkcho-Si.ovakia 


Visit  of  thic  President  of  the  Czecho-Slovak  Republic 

TO     Ror.MAXLV 

In  Front;    Mr.  AIasarvk  and  Mr.  Vofmcka 

In  Rear:  Minister  Tare  Jonescu,  .Mr.  Duca,  a  Serbian 
Lieutenant.  Mrs.  Marincovitch.  Serbian  Military 
Attache,  French  Minister  Count  de  Saint  Aulaire, 
Serbian  Minister  MARixrcn-iTcn  and  French  General 
Berthelot 


SHORTAGE  OF  FOOD  IN  ROUMANIA  307 

very  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  serve  this  notice,  but  as  long 
as  peace  in  Europe  was  at  stake,  that  we  asked  him  kindly 
to  comply  with  the  request  of  the  Allies.  He  said  he 
would  present  this  request  to  his  ministry  and  give  us 
the  answer  as  soon  as  possible.  After  deliberation,  the 
ministers  decided  that  because  of  patriotic  scruples,  they 
would  rather  resign  than  sign  the  treaty,  and  when  this 
was  announced  to  the  king,  he  appointed  Vaida  Voevod 
prime  minister. 

At  eleven  o'clock  that  night,  the  new  Prime  Minister 
came  to  our  Legation  and  told  me  that  if  the  changes 
he  suggested  in  Paris  were  made  in  the  treaty,  he  would 
be  willing  to  sign  it.  I  assured  him  that  the  Peace 
Commission  would  comply  with  this  request,  and  that 
he  should  send  my  telegram  regarding  this  matter  over 
his  wire,  as  it  was  necessary  that  the  answer  should  reach 
Paris  before  the  departure  of  Mr.  Polk  to  the  United 
States.  The  signing  of  the  treaty  between  Austria  and 
Roumania  was  the  last  matter  to  which  Mr.  Polk's 
attention  was  given. 

After  this  treaty  was  signed  and  the  danger  of  a 
rupture  between  Roumania  and  the  Allies  was  removed, 
the  Roumanian  people  were  very  well  satisfied.  At 
first  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  members  of  the  royal 
family  that  Roumania  had  made  great  sacrifices  by 
signing  this  treaty,  but  after  further  consideration  they 
also  became  fully  satisfied. 

At  last  peace  had  come  to  Roumania,  and  the  people 
could  return  to  their  homes,  and  again  take  up  their 
former  occupations. 

My  position  as  minister  to  three  countries  was  unique, 
and  required  the  exercise  of  much  tact  and  discretion. 


308  SECRETS  OF  THE   BALKANS 

While  it  is  true  that  these  countries  had  many  interests 
in  common,  they  also  had  their  individual  interests  apart 
from  each  other,  and  there  naturally  was  great  rivalry 
in  many  things.  Possibly  the  greatest  fear  of  all  was  of 
any  possible  encroachment  on  their  respective  territories. 
Therefore  I  was  scrupulously  careful,  when  making 
a  speech  in  any  one  of  the  countries,  to  confine  my 
remarks  only  to  the  affairs  of  that  nation,  and  to  make 
no  reference  to  the  affairs  of  the  other  states.  Of  course 
it  was  to  be  expected  that  at  times  the  representatives 
of  a  government  would,  ingenuously  or  otherwise,  ask 
some  question  regarding  conditions  or  matters  in  one  of 
the  other  countries  which  I  represented,  but  diplomatic 
evasion  of  such  inquiries  was  a  necessary  part  of  my 
official  career. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

SKETCHES    OF    KING    FERDINAND    AND    QUEEN    MARIE  — 
OTHER  ROUMANIAN  PATRIOTS 

DURING  the  years  1914  and  1915,  I  was  in  con- 
stant communication  with  the  American  Consul- 
General,  Mr.  J.  B.  Ravndal,  in  Constantinople,  where 
he  helped  to  start  the  American  Chamber  of  Commerce 
for  the  Levant.  He  asked  me  to  cooperate  with  him 
in  organizing  an  American  Chamber  of  Commerce  for  the 
three  Balkan  countries  to  which  I  was  accredited. 

I  realized  the  necessity  of  a  Chamber  of  Commerce 
for  the  establishment  and  development  of  trade  between 
these  countries  and  America.  The  business  done  in 
these  countries  with  America  was  very  small  and  was 
limited  to  purchases  of  agricultural  machinery.  I  imme- 
diately asked  our  consular  agent  in  Sofia  and  our  consul 
in  Serbia  to  cooperate  with  me.  In  Bucharest,  I  called 
a  meeting  of  prominent  American  and  Roumanian  busi- 
ness men,  and  at  this  meeting  the  Chamber  of  Commerce 
was  organized.  However,  just  when  plans  were  laid  and 
a  program  worked  out,  Roumania  entered  the  war  and 
our  activity  was  stopped. 

When  the  new  consul,  Mr.  Kemp,  arrived  at  Bucha- 
rest after  the  war,  I  talked  to  him  about  the  pre-war 
action  on  the  American  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  he 
was  enthusiastic  about  it  at  once  and  promised  to  con- 
tinue the  work.  A  meeting  was  called  and  the  organ- 
ization was  renewed.  He  was  elected  chairman,  with 
authority  to  name  the  board  of  directors. 

During  the  term  of  my  office  as  Minister  to  Rou- 
mania, Bulgaria  and  Serbia,  the  Department  of  State 

309 


310  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

was  short  of  secretaries.  I  had  a  secretary  for  only 
two  years  out  of  the  seven;  in  other  words,  I  was  with- 
out a  secretary  for  five  years. 

When  I  left  the  United  States  for  Jassy,  via  Russia, 
I  took  two  young  men  with  me  as  private  secretaries, 
but  one  of  them  after  he  spent  one  month  in  Jassy  was 
so  sick  of  that  city,  and  probably  also  lonesome  for  his 
sweetheart,  that  he  left  with  the  American  Red  Cross 
Commission  for  the  United  States;  the  other  stayed 
with  me  up  to  June  8,  1918,  the  time  when  the  Germans 
allowed  the  only  train  to  leave  from  Roumania  to  France. 
Then  I  could  not  hold  him,  because  he  wanted  to  enlist 
as  an  aeronaut  with  the  American  army  in  France. 

The  persons  who  left  in  this  train  could  take  no 
papers  with  them,  so  I  had  to  make  him  memorize  every- 
thing I  wanted  to  say  to  my  government.  He  arrived 
at  Berne,  sent  my  message  to  Washington,  and  after 
that  joined  the  American  army. 

After  he  left,  I  had  only  one  clerk  in  the  Legation. 
He  was  an  Englishman,  an  old  employe  of  the  Standard 
Oil  Company,  and  I  was  obliged  to  depend  on  him 
entirely  to  do  my  office  work.  He  was  a  good  stenog- 
rapher, but  did  not  speak  French.  I  had  to  attend  to 
telegrams  and  official  correspondence  personally.  Of 
course  during  this  period,  more  than  six  months,  the 
Department  could  not  send  me  any  help,  as  I  was  iso- 
lated from  the  whole  world,  together  with  my  colleagues, 
the  Allied  ministers,  and  the  Roumanians  themselves. 
At  that  time  we  were  completely  surrounded  by  the 
Bolsheviki  and  the  armies  of  the  Central  Powers. 

Our  partial  liberty  was  recovered  when  the  American 
army,  in  September,  1918,  showed  our  enemies  what 
they  could  do.    Then  I  was  permitted  to  send  tele- 


Queen  Marie  and  Pkmxcess  Illiana  aaio.ng   ihk  Orphans 


Princess  Illiana  of  Roumania 


KING  FERDINAND  AND  QUEEN  MARIE       311 

grams  in  cipher,  and  again  receive  communications  in 
the  same  form  from  the  Department  of  State.  During 
the  period  from  April  to  October,  1918,  I  could  send 
only  telegrams  en  dairy  and  these,  with  two  exceptions, 
were  lost  on  the  way. 

When  the  Roumanian  government  returned  from 
Jassy  to  Bucharest,  of  course  all  German  war  prisoners 
were  brought  there  too.  The  German  interests,  after 
America  went  to  war,  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
Swiss  government,  and  then  the  Swiss  Legation  moved 
into  the  German  Legation  building  at  Bucharest. 

The  German  war  prisoners,  especially  the  officers, 
in  Roumania,  could  get  no  satisfaction  from  the  Swiss 
Legation,  and  were  calling  on  our  Legation  and  asking 
me  to  intervene  in  their  behalf,  for  humanity's  sake, 
claiming  that  I  was  the  only  man  who  could  obtain 
permission  for  them  to  be  sent  home.  I  told  them  that 
I  could  not  interfere,  out  of  courtesy  to  my  colleague, 
but  when  I  met  the  Swiss  Minister,  I  talked  to  him 
privately  about  the  matter,  and  he  at  once  told  me  that 
he  could  do  nothing  for  the  war  prisoners,  and  if  I  could 
do  an3d:hing  for  them,  he  would  be  glad. 

I  took  this  matter  up  unofficially  with  the  Prime 
Minister,  Mr.  Bratiano,  and  he  said  he  was  willing  to 
send  the  German  prisoners  to  Germany  as  soon  as  the 
Roumanian  prisoners  were  sent  back  to  Roumania. 
A  Roumanian  commission  was  sent  to  Berlin  to  talve  up 
the  matter  of  exchanging  the  prisoners  of  war.  An 
agreement  was  reached,  and  thereafter,  whenever  a 
trainload  of  Roumanian  war  prisoners  arrived  from 
Germany,  the  same  train  was  filled  with  German  pris- 
oners and  sent  back  to  Germany.  This  exchange  was 
satisfactory  to  both  parties. 


312  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

While  the  government's  seat  was  in  Jassy  during 
Marghiloman's  regime,  a  great  deal  of  propaganda  was 
given  out  against  Bratiano's  government  in  Walachia. 
Mr.  Bratiano  was  charged,  during  the  time  that  the 
Germans  were  successful  on  the  Western  front,  with 
sacrificing  Dobrudja,  Roumania's  economic  independ- 
ence, and  even  the  whole  Roumanian  race. 

Marghiloman  insisted  that  General  Illiesco  should 
not  be  pardoned,  stating  that  if  he  should  be,  the  crime 
of  Tukarcaia  would  be  condoned,  and  furthermore,  that 
he  would  be  forgiven  for  the  poverty  he  had  thrown  over 
the  country.  We  cannot  pardon  national  assassination. 
He  said  that  Bratiano  should  be  brought  before  the 
courts.  Mr.  Constantinescu  was  arrested  with  Mr. 
George  Corbescu,  the  prefect  of  police,  and  others. 

During  my  stay  in  Jassy,  many  representatives  of 
different  nations  came  to  our  Legation,  and  asked  me 
to  send  petitions  on  their  behalf  to  the  Peace  Com- 
mission and  to  President  Wilson.  Among  them  was  a 
committee  of  Ukrainians,  representing  the  party  of 
General  Petlura.  To  them  I  said  that  I  could  not  recom- 
mend his  party,  because  it  was  very  uncertain  whether  his 
army  consisted  of  Bolsheviki  or  anti-Bolsheviki.  It  was 
proved  that  the  majority  of  his  troops  became  Bolshe- 
viki. 

Also,  representatives  of  the  Bolsheviki  of  Ukrainia 
called  on  me,  and  wanted  me  to  send  their  petition  to 
President  Wilson.  I  told  them  that  I  did  not  believe  I 
could  do  it  on  account  of  their  doctrine,  and  the  chair- 
man told  me  that  I  probably  was  not  well  acquainted 
with  their  doctrine,  and  stated  that  the  first  Bolshevik 
was  Christ,  because  he  said  that  nobody  should  own 
anything   more   than   his   neighbor.     I   told  him  that 


KING  FERDINAND  AND  QUEEN  MARIE       313 

that  idea  might  have  been  all  right  in  that  time,  but 
that  it  was  impossible  now. 

The  Cossacks,  Georgians,  Armenians  and  Albanians 
also  sent  representatives  to  the  Legation  to  plead  their 
respective  causes,  and  to  urge  that  their  petitions  be  for- 
warded to  the  Peace  Commission  and  to  President  Wilson. 

After  the  Roumanian  government  returned  to  Bucha- 
rest, there  was  a  feeling  plainly  shown  between  the 
people  who  came  from  Jassy  and  those  who  stayed  in 
Bucharest  during  the  German  occupation,  and  even 
articles  in  the  papers  stated  that  the  majority  of  the 
people  who  stayed  in  Bucharest  were  charged  with  being 
Germanophile  and  should  be  ignored.  Of  course  this 
action  was  not  approved  by  the  Allied  representatives 
in  Bucharest.  This  feeling  had  abated  considerably  at 
the  time  I  left  Bucharest  in  1920. 

After  the  signing  of  the  Armistice,  many  prominent 
Americans  came  to  Bucharest  for  different  reasons. 
Many  were  sent  by  the  Peace  Commission  in  Paris  as 
investigators.  Some  were  members  of  the  American 
Red  Cross,  others  were  members  of  Hoover's  Food 
Commission,  representatives  of  religious  missions  and 
church  investigators.  A  number  of  army  officers  arrived, 
but  no  emissaries  of  trade  missions  appeared. 

Many  came  to  the  Legation  to  obtain  information 
from  me,  which  would  aid  them  in  the  execution  of  their 
functions,  and  some  of  these  men  expressed  their  opinion 
that  it  would  not  be  necessary  to  send  commissions  to 
the  Balkans,  if  the  Peace  Commission  in  Paris  would  ask 
me  to  give  my  advice  in  settling  the  disagreements 
between  the  Balkanic  nations. 

Among  other  things  which  I  considered  very  import- 
ant for  our  country  was  the  membership  on  the  Danube 


314  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Commission.  I  asked  the  Department  of  State  to  insist 
that  one  member  of  the  Commission  should  be  an  Amer- 
ican, because  if  we  wished  to  do  business  in  Central 
Europe,  it  was  essential  that  our  country  be  represented 
on  that  body,  but  the  Department  of  State  never  made 
a  decision  in  the  matter. 

The  Roumanian  people  will  never  forget  those  who 
were  responsible  for  their  victory,  and  who  made  out  of 
Roumania,  Roumania  Mare,  by  extending  the  territory 
and  increasing  the  population  from  seven  million  to 
eighteen  million  people.  First  among  them  is  King  Ferd- 
inand I,  who,  at  the  request  of  the  majority  of  the  Rou- 
manian people,  consented  to  enter  the  war. 

I  consider  King  Ferdinand  one  of  the  most  demo- 
cratic kings  in  Europe.  If  it  were  not  for  the  conven- 
tional ceremonies  and  formalities  with  which  he  was 
surrounded,  I  am  sure  he  would  have  been  willing  and 
glad  to  meet  all  people  without  ceremony,  even  on  the 
street  or  in  his  private  home,  as  well  as  in  the  office  of 
the  palace. 

He  was  a  hard  worker;  there  was  not  a  day  in  the  week 
that  he  was  not  working  with  the  different  ministers.  He 
was  well  acquainted  with  all  the  branches  of  the  govern- 
ment, and  his  advice  to  the  ministers  was  invaluable. 
He  was  a  constitutional  king,  with  the  exclusive  right  as 
the  head  of  the  army  and  the  privilege  to  name  the 
ministry. 

When  the  question  came  up  as  to  who  should  be 
King  Carol's  successor,  King  Carol  himself  suggested 
the  name  of  the  present  King  Ferdinand,  formerly 
Prince  Hohenzollem;  and  Queen  ''Carmen  Sylva"  sug- 
gested the  Prince  of  Wied,  later  known  as  King  of  Albania. 


KING  FERDINAND  AND  QUEEN  MARIE       315 

But  King  Carol  gained  his  point,  and  the  present  King 
Ferdinand  received  the  preference,  to  the  good  fortune 
of  Roumania. 

As  a  new  Prince  of  Roumania,  he  immediately  took 
up  the  study  of  the  Roumanian  language,  which  he 
spoke  well,  and  I  have  heard  him  make  speeches  in 
that  language  that  would  do  credit  to  any  Roumanian 
professor. 

When  the  war  was  started,  he  was  a  friend  of  the 
Allies,  but  would  not  make  known  his  opinions,  because 
King  Carol  was  favoring  Austro-Hungaiy  and  Germany, 
or  neutrality.  But  after  the  death  of  King  Carol, 
King  Ferdinand  showed  his  ability,  and  when  the 
opportune  time  came,  he  proclaimed  himself  for  the 
war  on  the  side  of  the  Allies,  and  from  that  time  on 
became  a  very  much  loved  king  in  Roumania.  There 
was  never  given  him  the  credit  he  deserves.  I,  who 
particularly  studied  him,  must  give  him  credit  for  his 
ability,  capacity  for  hard  work,  democracy  and  fair- 
ness. He  guarded  the  interests  of  Roumania  success- 
fully, and  he  proved  himself,  in  the  time  of  danger  to 
Roumania,  the  man  of  the  hour.  During  the  war  he 
was  constantly  with  his  army,  giving  advice  and  encour- 
agement where  it  was  necessary. 

In  his  work  he  was  well  supported  by  his  wife,  Her 
Majesty  the  Queen  Marie.  It  is  my  great  pleasure  to 
mention  here  the  work  of  this  queen,  so  popular  and 
dearly  loved  by  her  people.  As  ruler,  she  showed  her 
ability.  In  peace,  she  worked  for  the  education  of  the 
people;  she  tried  to  better  their  material  conditions. 
In  their  poverty,  she  aided  them,  and  tried  to  find  work 
which  would  not  be  difficult  but  still  help  them  financially. 

She  was  an  early  riser,  getting  up  at  6  o'clock,  and  at 


316  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

6:30  she  had  breakfast  and  then  dictated  her  letters 
and  material  for  her  books.  Later  in  the  day  she  painted, 
visited  different  institutions  and  hospitals,  and  gave  teas, 
to  which  she  invited  new  artists,  and  in  that  way  intro- 
duced them  to  the  public.  At  the  same  time  she  chatted 
with  the  diplomats  and  with  prominent  subjects.  And 
she  managed  to  spend  considerable  time  with  her  chil- 
dren, helping  them  to  become  well  educated. 

During  the  war,  as  an  English-born  woman,  she  was 
the  greatest  friend  of  the  Entente  in  Roumania,  and  when 
the  war  was  proclaimed  in  Roumania  in  favor  of  the 
Entente,  everybody  gave  her  credit  for  influencing  this 
decision.  She  was  an  angel  to  the  wounded  soldiers, 
the  orphans,  the  needy  and  the  suffering  people.  She 
planned,  she  worked,  she  risked  her  life  daily,  especially 
during  the  terrible  epidemics  in  Roumania. 

She  was  everywhere.  Her  palace  was  changed  into 
a  workshop,  in  which  the  highest  ladies  in  Roumania 
were  toiling  every  day  under  her  leadership.  She 
discussed  politics  with  the  king  and  the  ministers,  and 
many  times  gave  advice  which  brought  great  benefit 
to  her  country. 

When  she  left  Jassy  and  went  to  Bicaz,  on  the 
Bistritza  River,  the  diplomats  and  the  people  of  Rou- 
mania were  afraid  that  the  Germans  might  carry  her 
away  from  there,  as  her  protection  was  insufficient. 
But  she  walked  about  freely  in  her  national  costume, 
without  fear,  always  working  among  the  poor  and  sick, 
giving  advice  and  aid  to  them.  When  during  the  war 
she  lost  her  beloved  son.  Prince  Mirca,  she  mourned 
the  great  misfortune  but  worked  resolutely  on.  She 
was  with  the  Red  Cross  workers  on  the  battlefield,  she 
consoled  the  wounded  soldiers,  and  obtained  for  them 


KING  FERDINAND  AND  QUEEN  MARIE       317 

the  best  to  eat  and  drink,  of  which,  however,  the  stock 
was  insufficient.  There  is  no  doubt  in  my  mind  that  if 
she  could  have  led  the  soldiers,  the  Roumanian  army 
would  have  been  unconquerable. 

Her  constructive  work  during  the  war  for  the  aid, 
not  only  of  the  soldiers  and  orphans,  but  of  the  civil 
population,  which  suffered  terribly  by  reason  of  insuffi- 
cient food,  was  praised  by  everybody.  Friends  or  enemies 
had  only  good  words  for  her,  and  when  she  became 
ill,  I  met  many  people  whose  eyes  were  full  of  tears 
when  they  asked  me  news  of  Her  Majesty's  condition. 

I  am  recording  this  as  a  sketch  of  the  real  queen, 
whose  activity  benefited  her  people,  in  whose  hearts 
her  name  is  written  in  golden  letters,  and  who  is  admired 
by  all  diplomats  and  visitors  who  had  opportunity  to 
see  her  work  for  humanity. 

Her  Majesty's  womanly  traits  were  very  marked, 
and  often  revealed  even  in  trivial  matters.  Shortly 
after  the  treaty  between  Roumania  and  Austria  was 
signed,  in  1919,  I  sent  her  a  box  of  American  made 
flavored  biscuit,  and  these  she  acknowledged  by  send- 
ing me  a  beautiful  autographed  photograph  of  herself. 
On  the  back  of  this  she  had  inscribed: 

Dear  Mr.  Minister: 

Thank  you  ever  so  much  for  the  exquisite  biscuits.  Illiana 
and  I  ate  them  with  relish,  regretting  that  America  is  so  far  off, 
and  that  the  delicious  biscuits  disappear  too  rapidly,  being  too 
good  to  eat  moderately.  Now  that  our  poor  little  country  has 
been  bullied  into  signing,  I  hope  we  may  all  be  friends  again,  and 
that  all  bitterness  between  us  and  our  "friends"  will  die  a  natural 
death. 

(Signed)    Marie. 

Other  persons  to  whom  credit  should  be  given  for 
Roumanian  success  are,  Mr.  Jon  I.  C.  Bratiano,  Mr. 


318  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

Alex  Constantinescu,  Mr.  Take  Jonescu,  Mr.  Nicu 
Filipescu,  Mr.  Mihail  Pherekyde,  Prince  Stirbey,  Mr. 
Vintila  J.  C.  Bratiano,  Mr.  Diamandy,  Mr.  N.  Misu, 
Mr.  Em-Porumbaru,  Mr.  E.  Constinescu,  Mr.  I.  Duca, 
Dr.  Angelescu,  General  Grigorescu,  General  Averescu, 
General  Coanda,  General  Vaitoianu,  General  Prezan, 
General  Cristescu,  besides  many  others. 

Mr.  Marghiloman  is  mentioned  because  he  was 
the  Prime  Minister  under  the  German  occupation  of 
Walachia,  and  in  his  difficult  position,  although  con- 
sidered a  Germanophile,  he  protected  the  royal  family. 

The  inhabitants  of  Roumania,  Serbia  and  Bulgaria 
have  much  in  common,  in  their  environment,  customs 
and  mode  of  living.  The  great  majority  in  each  country 
live  in  small  houses,  but  being  a  hardy  and  prolific  people, 
and  given  to  marrying  in  early  life,  they  raise  large 
families.  And  each  family  has  at  least  one  dog,  and 
sometimes  one  for  each  member  of  the  family,  all 
trained  to  be  faithful  guardians  of  their  owner's  interests. 

The  kysele  mleko,  a  sour  milk,  called  iaurt  or  Bul- 
garian sour  milk,  is  a  popular  beverage.  The  cigarette 
habit  is  prevalent  among  both  sexes  in  each  country. 
They  all  have  the  same  national  dance,  the  "Hora,"  and 
the  wedding  ceremony  is  much  the  same,  though  this 
is  probably  due  to  the  fact  that  they  all  belong  to  the 
orthodox  church. 

They  all  love  their  homes  and  countries.  The 
Roumanians  have  a  saying,  **Dombovitza  apa  dulca 
cine  mi  se  mai  duce,"  which,  being  freely  translated 
means,  "Whoever  once  drinks  the  sweet  water  of  Dom- 
bovitza  will  never  depart  from  here."  Their  laws  are 
generally  founded  on  the  same  principles,  though  of 


KING  FERDINAND  AND  QUEEN  MARIE       319 

course  there  are  a  few  that  are  peculiar  to  their  own 
locality.  Many  years  ago,  the  Bulgarians  passed  a 
law  imposing  a  tax  of  three  dollars  a  year  on  all  unmarried 
men  of  thirty  years  and  over.  It  became  a  custom  on 
the  first  Monday  in  Lent  for  the  girls  to  arm  themselves 
with  inflated  pig  bladders,  and  with  these  they  freely 
beat  up  the  luckless  bachelors,  who  were  willing  to  pay 
the  tax  if  they  could  only  escape  the  flagellation,  this 
being  a  case  where  it  was  more  blessed  to  give  than  to 
receive. 


21 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

IMPROBABILITY  OF  FUTURE  EUROPEAN  WARS 

TODAY  we  view  Europe  after  the  World  War. 
What  are  the  conditions  there  now?  What  does 
the  future  hold?  Must  we  expect  another  war  in  the 
near  future?  How  should  America  act  towards  the 
stricken  nations? 

Frequently  I  have  been  asked  these  questions,  and 
I  believe  the  American  people  are  entitled  to  all  the 
information  that  can  be  given  them  regarding  present 
conditions  in  Europe,  and  the  probabilities  and  possibili- 
ties of  the  future.  And  this  must  be  based  on  knowledge 
of  the  European  people,  their  pre-war  aspirations  and 
their  national  demands  and  needs. 

Many  do  not  yet  realize  how  hard  a  task  President 
Wilson  had  after  the  armistice,  when  the  settlement 
among  the  nations  came  up  for  discussion  before  the 
Peace  Commission  in  Paris. 

The  Entente  Powers  (England,  France  and  Italy) 
made  contracts  and  gave  promises  to  different  nations 
before  America  entered  the  war,  to  induce  them  to 
take  part  on  their  side  and  help  defeat  the  enemy,  and 
many  of  these  promises,  and  even  contracts,  were  not 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  President  Wilson.  When  he 
proclaimed  his  fourteen  points  he  did  not  know  that 
many  of  the  promises  made  could  not  be  fulfilled  if  his 
plan  should  be  adopted,  and  this  was  really  the  cause 
of  the  trouble  which  faced  the  Peace  Commission  and 
delayed  the  signing  of  peace  treaties. 

For  years  the  main  obstacle  to  European  peace  was 
Austro-Hungary,  and  I  believe  that  by  the  division  of 

320 


IMPROBABILITY  OF  FUTURE  EUROPEAN  WARS  321 

that  monarchy  the  main  source  of  trouble  for  peace  in 
Europe  was  removed. 

Let  us  see  which  nations  in  Europe,  if  any,  could 
desire  war  in  the  future.  We  will  consider  first  those 
which  were  defeated,  namely,  Germany,  Austro-Hungary, 
Bulgaria  and  Turkey. 

I  do  not  believe  that  Germany  will  be  eager  for  war, 
for  several  reasons.  First,  since  this  war,  the  people  of 
Germany  have  become  more  democratic  and  anti-milita- 
ristic. The  militaristic  party  of  Germany,  which  had  a 
pre-war  strength  of  only  eleven  per  cent  of  the  German 
population  and  yet  forced  the  German  people  into  the 
disastrous  war,  will  never  come  into  power  again,  if  the 
present  democratic  government  can  be  made  permanent 
and  prove  that  the  people  can  exist  under  it  as  under 
the  military  rule. 

Monetary  reasons  alone  are  sufficient  to  preclude 
the  possibility  of  Germany  again  seeking  a  war. 

Germany  as  a  republic,  like  all  firmly  established 
republics,  will  not  be  led  into  war  on  flimsy  or  unimpor- 
tant issues  as  readily  as  a  monarchy. 

A  German  republic,  a  democratic  institution,  will  be 
more  successful  than  the  monarchy.  If  the  Allies  take 
into  consideration  this  last  named  point  especially,  they 
will  be  careful  not  to  press  Germany  too  far.  We 
Americans  can  aid  to  establish  a  permanent  republic 
in  Germany,  not  by  mere  advice  but  by  material  help. 
The  often  expressed  fear  that  Germany  might  combine 
with  Russia  and  fight  the  other  nations  should  not  be 
considered  at  all.  Bolshevik  Russia  has  a  separate 
standing,  and  not  all  Russians  are  Bolsheviki.  We 
must  not  forget  that  the  Russians  are  Slavs,  and,  there- 
fore, even  if  the  government  of  Russia  is  changed  in 


322  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

the  future,  there  will  be  no  combination  of  Germans 
and  Russians  against  the  people  of  the  world. 

There  are  other  reasons  against  hostile  action  on  the 
part  of  Germany  in  the  near  future,  but  the  chief  one 
is  that  the  German  people  are  worn  and  subdued  by  their 
experiences,  which  they  do  not  care  to  live  through 
again. 

Austria,  now  a  new  country  with  about  six  and  one- 
half  million  people,  cannot  even  think  of  a  new  war. 
There  would  have  to  be  a  reason  for  which  the  whole 
nation  would  demand  it,  and  there  is  none  conceivable. 

In  this  connection,  I  may  state  that  the  stand  of  the 
Allied  Powers  against  the  annexation  of  Austria  to 
Germany  was  taken  for  the  reason  that  Germany  would 
be  too  near  the  Balkans,  which  would  be  inimical  to 
European  peace. 

The  statement  that  Austria  cannot  exist  as  an 
independent  nation  is  wrong.  The  people  living  in 
Vienna  must  now  and  forever  forget  what  Vienna  was 
before  the  war,  when  all  the  other  nations  constituting 
the  Austro-Hungarian  monarchy  were  obliged  to  pay 
for  the  upkeep  of  that  city,  which  was  the  residence  of  the 
monarch  and  the  seat  of  government.  If  that  is  forgot- 
ten, they  can  develop  their  industries  just  as  the  people 
of  Switzerland  do,  and  then  Austria  can  live  on  its  indus- 
try as  well  as  Switzerland  can. 

Hungary's  position  is  better  than  the  position  of 
Austria,  because  she  is  entirely  an  agricultural  country. 
With  her  seven  million  inhabitants  she  has  a  prosperous 
existence  assured.  She  also  must  forget  her  pre-war 
standing,  and  adjust  herself  to  present  conditions.  If 
she  should  try  to  engage  in  war,  she  would  simply  be 
committing  national  suicide. 


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4MJi^  d 


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Queen  jMarie  of  Roimaxia 


IMPROBABILITY  OF  FUTURE  EUROPEAN  WARS  323 

Bulgaria  is  the  only  country  which  has  a  real  griev- 
ance. It  is  charged  that  she  committed  a  crime  by 
joining  Germany  and  Austria  in  the  war,  but  we  must 
realize  that  the  people  of  Bulgaria  as  a  whole  did  not 
wish  to  join  the  Germans,  and  that  their  sympathy  was 
with  the  Allies.  Czar  Ferdinand  and  Prime  Minister 
Radoslavoff  were  responsible  for  her  participation  in 
the  war,  and  they  are  today  in  exile,  not  permitted  to 
return  to  Bulgaria. 

The  Allies  of  course  demanded  satisfaction,  and 
Bulgaria  was  obliged  to  pay  and  suffer  for  the  wrong 
step  taken,  but  I  expected  that  the  real  attitude  of  the 
Bulgarian  people  before  the  war  would  be  taken  into 
consideration  before  the  judgment  of  the  Allies  was 
pronounced.  Now,  after  the  decision  is  made  against 
Bulgaria,  I  believe  that  she  is  too  severely  punished. 
Not  only  Thrace  was  taken  away  from  her,  but  also 
the  entrance  to  the  ^^gean  Sea. 

When  we  consider  the  future  peace  of  Europe,  we 
must  also  think  of  Bulgaria.  The  countries  of  her 
former  Allies  in  the  first  Balkanic  war  are  enlarged  but 
she  is  made  smaller.  Land  is  the  dearest  possession  of 
the  Balkan  people,  and  territorial  reduction  is  the 
bitterest  form  of  penalty. 

I  am  sure  we  all  agree  that  she  had  to  be  punished, 
but  not  so  severely  as  she  v\^as.  She  should  receive  her 
frontier  on  the  ^^gean  Sea  again,  and  in  compensation 
be  obliged  to  pay  a  little  more  indemnity.  If  a  steady 
peace  is  to  reign  in  the  Balkans,  Bulgaria  must  be  taken 
into  consideration.  She  is  there  to  stay,  and  her 
neighbors,  no  matter  how  unfriendly  to  her,  must  use 
sound  judgment. 

If  Bulgaria,  who  lost  all  her  claims  on  Macedonia, 
is  too  much  pressed,  she  may  be  a  cause  of  perpetual 


324  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

unrest,  a  prospect  the  Allies  should  kill  in  the  bud. 

Turkey,  the  most  troublesome  country  in  Europe, 
should  be  removed  from  Europe  to  Asia  Minor.  The 
cruelty  with  which  she  treated  the  Armenians  should  be 
sufficient  reason  for  this  act.  For  centuries  she  was 
massacring  Christians;  for  centuries  she  was  an  unmer- 
ciful master  of  the  Balkanic  nations.  She  never  insti- 
tuted any  reforms,  nor  ever  made  a  suggestion  for  the 
benefit  of  mankind.  Now  is  the  proper  time  to  punish 
her  for  all  her  sins  of  the  past. 

The  jealousy  always  existing  among  European  nations 
should  be  removed  in  this  case.  Constantinople  should 
be  internationalized  and  the  Dardanelles  made  per- 
petually free  to  all  the  nations.  If  the  Allies  will  not 
settle  the  Turkish  question  now,  in  the  sense  above 
interpreted,  then  they  do  not  sincerely  desire  peace, 
and  the  talk  of  a  long  and  undisturbed  peace  is  hollow 
and  insincere. 

The  Turkish  reign  should  be  removed  to  Asia  Minor, 
Turkey  removed  from  Europe,  and  Bulgaria's  penalty 
made  just,  will  secure  European  peace  for  a  long  time 
to  come. 

The  new  nations  created  in  the  war,  namely  Czecho- 
slovakia, Jugo-Slavia,  Poland  and  enlarged  Roumania 
have  no  reasons  to  commence  a  war.  Their  national 
dreams  are  realized,  and  they  will  be  glad  to  live  in  peace. 

After  the  Irish  question  is  settled  and  the  Russian 
problems  cleared  up,  the  old  European  nations  will  not 
begin  any  fresh  wars,  and  all  Europe  will  enjoy  the 
peace  which  was  purchased  with  such  tremendous 
sacrifices. 


CHAPTER   XXXII 

RUSSIA'S  GREAT  SACRIFICES  AND   INVALUABLE  AID  — 
HER  FUTURE 

RUSSIA,  the  most  unfortunate  country  on  earth  at 
the  present  time,  should  be  well  treated  by  the 
Allies.  It  is  due  to  her  army  and  to  the  vast  sacrifices 
she  made  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  that  Germany 
could  not  attack  the  Allies  with  her  full  strength,  during 
the  years  1914  and  1915,  and  inflict  on  them  a  decisive 
defeat. 

It  was  a  sacrifice  of  the  Russians  to  send  two  armies 
to  East  Prussia,  as  was  done  at  the  request  of  France, 
and  this  sacrifice  made  it  easier  for  the  Allies  to  defeat 
the  Germans  at  the  Mame,  who  were  obliged  to  send 
several  army  corps  from  France  to  East  Prussia  at  a  very 
critical  time.  This  Russian  offensive  together  with  the 
resistance  of  Belgium,  was  a  great  help  to  the  Allies. 

Furthermore,  Russia  kept  Austro-Hungary  constantly 
busy,  and  Generals  Brussiloff  and  Ruzsky  gained  victory 
after  victory  against  this  ally  of  Gemiany.  At  the  end 
of  September,  1914,  the  Russian  army  occupied  the 
whole  of  Galicia,  and  made  the  Austrian  position  so 
critical  that  Germany  was  obliged  to  send  eighteen 
divisions  to  the  Eastern  front,  divisions  which  not  only 
could  never  be  sent  back,  but  even  had  to  be  reinforced. 

In  March,  1915,  the  Russian  victory  was  so  great 
that  even  Hungary  was  penetrated  by  the  Russian 
troops,  and  the  Austro-Hungarian  army  totally  disor- 
ganized. To  save  Austria,  Germany  had  to  send  anew 
seventeen  divisions  to  Russia  and  change  all  her  plans, 

325 


326  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

as  it  was  plain  that  she  had  to  defeat  Russia  first  before 
she  could  take  a  decisive  action  in  France. 

Russia   was   fighting   heroically   up   to   September, 

1915,  when,  because  she  had  no  ammunition,  for 
she  was  not  prepared  for  so  long  a  fight,  she  was 
temporarily  defeated.  But  by  her  stand,  she  gave 
England  and  France  time  to  increase  their  armies  and 
supply  them  with  sufficient  artillery,  so  that  in  February, 

1916,  when  the  Germans  started  their  drive,  the  Allies 
were  well  prepared  for  the  fight. 

Again,  a  short  time  after  this,  when  the  Germans 
pressed  the  Allies  too  hard,  Russia  was  appealed  to  and 
responded  by  commencing  an  offensive  on  a  large 
front  from  Baranovitchy  to  Riga,  again  at  a  great 
sacrifice.  This  movement  compelled  the  Germans  to 
transfer  several  divisions  to  Russia  at  a  time  when  she 
could  not  afford  to  move  them  from  France. 

And  again,  when  the  Italian  front  was  endangered 
by  half  of  Austria's  army,  Russia  was  appealed  to  with 
the  result  that  General  Brussiloff's  offensive  stopped  the 
Austrian  offensive  in  Italy,  and  the  Germans  were 
obliged  to  send  eighteen  more  divisions  to  Russia. 
This  move  also  facilitated  the  entrance  of  Roumania 
into  the  war.  The  Germans  were  finally  successful  in 
Russia,  but  many  hundreds  of  thousands  of  her  best 
soldiers  found  their  graves  there. 

In  the  winter  of  1916-17,  Russia  reorganized  her 
army  and  increased  her  infantry,  so  that  in  the  spring 
of  1917  she  was  stronger  than  at  any  time  during  the  war. 

Between  1914  and  1917  Russia  was  fighting  Turkey 
in  Asia  Minor  with  great  success,  causing  heavy  losses 
of  men  and  territory  to  Turkey,  but  on  account  of  the 
successful  revolution  in  March,  1917,  she  was  prevented 


WooDRow  Wilson 


RUSSIA'S  GREAT  SACRIFICES  AND  FUTURE   327 

from  reaping  the  benefits  of  the  victory  of  the  Allies. 
Of  course  it  must  be  taken  into  consideration  that 
Russia's  refusal  to  renew  the  commercial  treaty  with 
Germany  in  1909  was  one  of  the  causes  of  the  World 
War,  and  therefore  by  fighting  on  the  side  of  the  Allies 
she  did  only  her  duty. 

During  the  war,  Russia  lost  more  than  three  million 
soldiers  and  as  many  more  of  her  civil  population,  and 
her  material  sacrifices  were  enormous.  This  should  not 
be  forgotten. 

During  the  war  many  changes  occurred  in  the  life 
of  the  Russian  people.  The  Czar  established  prohibition 
and  took  vodka  from  them,  and  they  in  turn  took  his 
throne  and  afterwards  his  life,  but  the  revolution 
brought  freedom  to  the  people  from  Czarism,  and  it  was 
the  general  expectation  that  Russia  would  be  a  successful 
republic  similar  to  our  American  republic.  But  it  was 
not  in  the  stars  that  poor  Russia  should  long  enjoy 
peace. 

The  government  of  Russia  was  taken  over  by  the 
Soviets,  who  were  and  are  trying  to  introduce  their 
doctrine  among  the  Russian  people.  To  do  that  it  was 
necessary  to  remove  all  the  rich  and  intelligent  people, 
either  by  killing  them  or  sending  them  into  exile,  and 
to  divide  their  properties  among  the  mujiks.  This 
granting  of  the  land  made  the  Bolshevik  government 
strong.  The  armies  of  General  Denikine  and  of  General 
Wrangel  had  no  chance,  because,  in  the  first  place, 
Denikine  never  issued  a  proclamation  of  what  his  govern- 
ment should  do  for  the  Russian  mujiks  if  victorious,  nor 
proclaimed  that  the  land  which  they  were  holding  should 
be  secured  to  them,  and,  therefore,  they  preferred  the 
certainty  which  was  assured  to  them  by  the  Bolshevik 


328  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

government.     General    Wrangel's   campaign   ended    in 
complete  defeat. 

Russia's  position  in  Europe  is  unique.  She  is  the 
only  country  where  a  Bolshevik  government  exists. 
This  government  is  trying  to  put  in  force  a  doctrine 
absolutely  new,  the  result  of  which  is  at  least  very 
doubtful. 

The  enormous  population  comprises  one  hundred 
and  fifty  million  Slavs,  known  to  be  peace  loving  people. 
The  Bolshevik  doctrine  puts  the  country  in  a  chaotic 
condition,  and  it  is  certain  that  only  a  part  of  the  people 
are  believers  in  this  new  theory,  and  probably  only  a 
very  small  part. 

The  present  government  is  unable  to  satisfy  the 
people  for  several  reasons.  Russia  is  exhausted  from 
war  and  needs  overhauling  in  all  branches,  not  only  of 
government,  but  of  her  industries  and  commerce 

I  believe  it  is  not  a  good  policy  for  American  people 
to  keep  away  from  Russia  and  ignore  her,  because, 
in  the  simpleness  of  the  Russian  people,  most  of  them 
being  unlettered,  they  will  always  keep  in  mind  the  fact 
that  our  country  was  the  one  that  did  not  help  them 
after  the  war.  Whether  rightly  or  not.  we  can  expect 
such  a  complaint. 

The  United  States  should  send  to  Russia  a  mixed 
commission  of  diplomats,  engineers,  manufacturers  and 
business  men,  who  could  bring  back  a  complete  report 
for  our  immediate  consideration,  so  that  we  could  either 
at  once  follow  the  example  of  England  and  other  European 
nations  who  are  now  supplying  Russia,  or  prepare  some 
definite  program  for  action  as  soon  as  possible. 

America  has  a  good  opportunity  to  get  orders  from 
Russia  for  raw  material  and   manufactured   goods,   a 


RUSSIA'S  GREAT  SACRIFICES  AND   FUTURE   329 

demand  which  will  be  enormous,  but  if  we  let  this  oppor- 
tunity pass,  Germany,  which  is  now  ready  for  business, 
and  England,  that  has  more  idle  people  than  ever,  will 
make  strenuous  efforts  to  supply  Russia  without  us,  and 
establish  business  relations  there  which  will  make 
American  competition  extremely  difficult. 

If  the  Russians  are  supplied  with  the  necessities  of 
life  and  the  required  agricultural  machinery,  it  will  be 
vastly  easier  for  them  to  shape  their  government  than 
it  is  at  the  present  time. 

Russia  will  limp  for  a  long  time,  until  a  new  demo- 
cratic government  is  established,  but  I  believe  that  she 
can  be  successful  only  if  she  is  divided  into  federal  states 
on  the  plan  of  our  own  republic. 

The  United  States  played  the  most  important  part  in 
the  war,  decided  the  victory  for  the  Allies  and  defeated 
German  militarism,  and  thereby  not  only  gave  liberty 
and  independence  to  many  nations,  but  also  freed  the 
German  people  from  military  rule  and  made  Germany 
a  democratic  nation,  which,  I  am  sure,  will  be  more  happy 
as  a  republic  than  before.  And  when  the  first  hardships 
which  always  follow  a  war  are  overcome  and  forgot- 
ten, the  German  people  will  live  a  happier  and  more 
prosperous  life  than  ever. 

Americans  can  be  proud  of  their  part  in  the  World 
War.  Their  unselfish  and  humane  action  under  the 
leadership  of  President  Wilson  will  forever  be  a  record 
of  which  the  American  people  can  justly  feel  proud. 

The  World  War  is  ended. 

Let  us  hope  that  the  blood  of  those  who  perished, 
and  the  tears  of  those  who  lived  and  suffered,  shall  not 
have  been  shed  in  vain,  and  that  in  time,  out  of  all  the 


330  SECRETS  OF  THE  BALKANS 

woe  and  desolation,  shall  be  brought  forth  great  and 
enduring  good  for  all  mankind. 

For  the  smaller  nations,  let  it  be  our  hope  that  the 
last  chapter  has  been  written  in  the  glorious  record  of 
the  dauntless  fight  for  freedom  that  they  have  waged 
for  centuries,  and  that  the  priceless  liberty  they  have 
won  shall  serve  to  unite  them  evermore,  one  for  all,  and 
all  for  one,  in  the  cause  of  humanity. 

And  the  people  of  these  Balkan  States,  who  in  the 
desolate  years  of  great  tribulation  became  to  me  as 
brothers  and  sisters,  may  they  find  joy  in  their  vocations 
and  contentment  in  their  homes,  and  in  their  hearts  the 
deep  peace  that  is  born  of  devotion  to  the  right,  and  may 
their  children  of  either  high  or  lowly  estate  be  afforded 
the  education  that  is  youth's  most  precious  heritage. 

And  may  all  the  frightfulness  of  war  be  as  a  night 
of  horror,  banished  by  the  dawning  day  that  shall  be 
the  beginning  of  the  eternal  reign  of  truth  and  justice. 

The  End 


OF 


Decorations  Accoki)i:i) 

Serbian  Order 
THE  White  Eagle 
1ST  Class 


Mk.  X'opicka 
Roi'.NLWiAN  Order 

Mare  Cruce 


JI'/"/'/'/"i 
....  II  III  I 

'^M    000  798  559 


mmn^.^.^r  ff^ClUTy